Devon Sannito-Griesi, a 20-year-old resident of Melbourne, Florida, tragically lost his life on November 16, 2017. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Park at Via Terrossa Apartments on Palm Bay Road. According to reports, Sannito-Griesi was found with a gunshot wound to the neck and was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot and seeing a gold SUV driven by a black male leaving the scene shortly after the shooting. The Melbourne Police Department launched an investigation into the incident, identifying Donta Jermaine Childs as the primary suspect.
Childs, who was 38 years old at the time, was described as having a distinctive "YOLO" tattoo below his collarbone. Investigators discovered that Childs and Sannito-Griesi had an unspecified business relationship prior to the shooting. This connection led the police to identify Childs as a suspect shortly after the incident. A warrant for Childs' arrest was issued in March 2018, and the U.S. Marshal's Office was contacted to assist in locating him, as he was no longer in the area.
The investigation revealed that Sannito-Griesi's girlfriend had expressed concerns that Childs might have attempted to rob Sannito-Griesi during a marijuana sale. Utilizing digital forensics and DNA evidence from Childs' vehicle, which was seen leaving the scene, detectives were able to secure an arrest warrant for Childs. Despite efforts to locate him, Childs remained at large for nearly three years. During this time, he was featured in the Melbourne police's "Find 'Em Friday" social media campaign, which aimed to locate suspects at large.
In July 2020, Childs was finally apprehended and charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and robbery with a firearm. He was booked into the Brevard County Jail, bringing some closure to the case. The arrest marked a significant development in the investigation, which had spanned several years and involved extensive efforts by law enforcement to bring the suspect to justice.
