Florida: Two men, Benjamin Johnson Jr., 33, and Larry Johnson Jr., 34, have been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of 46-year-old Andre Cummins during a robbery attempt in Bradenton, Florida. The men pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree murder with a firearm ahead of their joint trial, according to court records from Manatee County. Circuit Court Judge Frederick Mercurio handed down the sentences, granting both men credit for time served. The attorneys for the Johnsons did not provide immediate responses when contacted for comments on the case.
The Incident: Fatal Robbery Attempt
The tragic events unfolded on July 17, 2021, when deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunshots in the 5800 block of Third Street East. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered that the alleged shooters had already fled. However, surveillance footage from the area captured critical moments of the crime. The video reportedly showed Cummins backing down a driveway with his hands raised in surrender while Larry Johnson Jr. followed him closely. Moments later, Cummins collapsed, apparently shot, according to arrest records. Following the shooting, the video showed Larry getting into the driver’s seat of a beige Ford Taurus, while Benjamin took the passenger’s seat, and the two men drove away from the scene.
Robbery Turns Deadly
A key witness, who was present during the robbery, told detectives that moments before the shooting, he was inside playing video games with Cummins when Benjamin Johnson Jr. entered the house, brandishing two firearms and demanding money. The witness stated that Benjamin forced him to the ground at gunpoint. As tensions escalated, Larry allegedly instructed Benjamin to shoot the witness, prompting him to push Benjamin and flee the house. Shortly after fleeing, the witness heard gunshots and Cummins crying out in pain. The witness, along with Cummins’ brother, who arrived shortly after the shooting, helped load the injured Cummins into a gold sedan in an attempt to get him medical help.
Arrest and Aftermath
As deputies responded to the call, they encountered a gold sedan matching the description of the vehicle involved in the shooting. Inside, they found Cummins in the passenger seat, gravely wounded and without a pulse. Deputies immediately transported him to Manatee Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead due to his injuries.
In the days following the incident, detectives reviewed the surveillance footage and interviewed multiple witnesses. Both the witness and Cummins’ brother identified Benjamin and Larry Johnson Jr. in photo lineups, further corroborating the events that led to Cummins’ death. The beige Ford Taurus used by the suspects was also found parked behind a house in Bradenton. A few days after the shooting, law enforcement arrested the Johnsons and charged them with second-degree murder. Both men will now serve 25-year sentences for their roles in the fatal robbery.
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