Keives Brooks, a 19-year-old from Tallahassee, Florida, tragically lost his life on September 19, 2017. Brooks, originally from Bradenton, Florida, was a student at Tallahassee Community College and had a passion for basketball. On the day of his death, Brooks was involved in a fatal shooting outside an apartment on Putnam Drive in Tallahassee. The incident was the result of a planned ambush by three individuals: Reginald Brown, Demarlis Martin, and Davaris Dawes.
The trio orchestrated the attack in retaliation for an earlier argument that took place at Florida A&M University’s cafeteria.
The confrontation began with a heated argument that nearly escalated into a physical altercation. Following this, Brown, Martin, and Dawes invited Brooks, his brother, and a friend to Brown's apartment under the pretense of resolving the dispute. However, the suspects had no intention of peacefully settling the matter. Instead, they planned to ambush Brooks and his companions. When Brooks and the others arrived at the apartment, they were met with gunfire. Brooks was found dead on the landing outside the second-floor apartment, having been struck by four bullets. His brother and the other man were also shot but survived their injuries.
The investigation revealed that the suspects had communicated their intentions through text messages, discussing their plan to shoot the victims upon their arrival. Dawes, in particular, expressed his eagerness to use his firearm, stating he was "trigger happy" and intended to "spray up the spot." The suspects were arrested and charged with premeditated murder and attempted murder. They were held without bond at the Leon County jail.
The case against Brown, Martin, and Dawes highlighted the premeditated nature of the crime, with evidence showing that the suspects had lured Brooks and his companions to the apartment with the intent to kill. The tragic death of Keives Brooks marked Tallahassee's 15th homicide of the year, underscoring the city's struggle with violent crime during that period. The legal proceedings against the suspects were closely followed, as the community sought justice for Brooks and his family.
