[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 04/09/20]
MOUNT DORA, Florida — “Y’all know how I live since I was a jit,” were the words a 24-year-old man allegedly said before opening fire at two men on a residential street in March. Now, that man is behind bars facing numerous charges.
On March 21, two men were standing in the front yard of a home in the 1700 block of North Orange Street in Mount Dora, when a man known to them sped by the residence several times, according to a probable cause affidavit. One of the men, who was later shot, yelled at the driver to slow down and a passenger leaned out of the window and said, ”What,” and the vehicle left the area.
A short while later, a vehicle drove up in the yard of the home and five black males got out and began to argue. A witness told police the driver, Jaylen Tremaine Dawkins, 24, went up to the man who yelled and began arguing with him about the earlier confrontation over speeding. Dawkins was not the driver involved in the prior confrontation, according to the affidavit.
A witness attempted to curtail the argument, and Dawkins yelled, “Y’all know how I live since I was a jit,” and began shooting in the direction of the man he was arguing with and another man. The man Dawkins was arguing with tried to get away from Dawkins and ran to the rear door of the home, only to find it locked. The man was shot multiple times, including taking a shot to the torso. The victim fled the scene and was met by Mount Dora Police officers on a nearby street. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center. His condition now is unknown.
Dawkins was identified by a witness in a photo line-up and a warrant was issued for his arrest, just one day after the shooting, and he was picked up in Leesburg on the warrant Saturday. Dawkins is charged with attempted felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, shooting into an occupied dwelling and driving with a suspended license.
Dawkins has also been recommitted to the Lake County Jail on four pending violent felony charges — aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, assault with intent to commit a felony, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, and armed burglary. Dawkins’ total bond is $310,000.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
