C.J. Gish
Investigators arrested four individuals associated with an alleged Cedar Key home invasion robbery that led to the death of one man in August.
According to a Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) release, Aonesty T. Smith (21), Ocean Cary Dunn (24), Jerry Cordel Clanton (30) and Theriyus Leequina Banks (24) were connected with the homicide of Anthony Brown.
The investigation started on Aug. 14 when, around 2 a.m., a black car drove to the UF Health Emergency Center Kanapaha in Gainesville and two unidentified subjects seen on video surveillance removed an injured person from the vehicle and left him near the emergency room entrance door and departed, according to the LCSO.
Emergency room staff treated the injured person, later identified as Brown, who was suffering from a gunshot wound. No other information was immediately available, and Brown did not survive his injury.
Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies responded to the emergency center and started an investigation. ACSO detectives received a tip on the identity of the two individuals who dropped Brown off at the hospital and learned that Brown may have been shot in Levy County.
LCSO and ACSO personnel worked together and discovered Brown, along with several other individuals, went to a home near Cedar Key in Levy County to commit a home invasion robbery. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) was contacted due to the complexity of the case falling inside multiple jurisdictions.
The joint investigation between the three agencies led to the identification of the four suspects. Investigators seized digital and physical evidence through numerous search warrants, court orders and subpoenas and all suspects arrested were either participants in the planning of or the actual home invasion robbery, according to the LCSO.
The Cedar Key homeowner who fired the round that killed Brown cooperated with law enforcement and no charges have been filed against this individual.
Smith, Dunn and Clanton are all being charged with homicide and each being held on a $1 million bond. Banks has a homicide warrant pending and is being held in Alachua County on other charges.
FDLE agents and LCSO detectives continue to search for additional suspects. They are asking anyone with information regarding this crime to contact LCSO detective Shelby Kilian at 352-486-5111 ext. 276. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477 and you could be eligible for a cash reward.
