Sarasota: Linval Raymond Cohoone Jr was convicted after jury trial of two counts of Attempted 1st Degree Murder with a Firearm 

The crimes carry a maximum possible sentence of Life in Prison and a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 25 years. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Back on April 6, 2018, after years of repeatedly threatening and abusing his longtime girlfriend, the Defendant shot her in the face while she was at home in her bedroom. The Victim’s teenage daughter was in the home at the time and went to check on her mother after hearing the gunshot. The Defendant then shot the teenager in the back of the head and fled the scene. Even after having just been shot point blank in the back of the head with a semi-automatic 9mm handgun, the teenaged victim was able to call law enforcement, and both victims were transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where they were treated for their injuries. Miraculously, both victims survived their injuries. A B.O.L.O. was put out for the Defendant, and with the help of the U.S. Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force, the Defendant was located and arrested 5 days later. Two years after his arrest, the Defendant offered to pay an inmate in the Sarasota County Jail to kill one of the surviving victims. Then, four months before trial, the Defendant called the other surviving victim and begged her not to show up to court and testify against him.

The lead prosecutor in the case, Assistant State Attorney Joshua Wertheim commented, “Based on their injuries, the victims in this case should be dead, and if it were up to the Defendant, they would be. Their strength and their courage kept them alive, and fortunately this week they were able to tell the jurors the heinous acts that Linval Cohoone committed upon them. Their bravery during trial this week, along with testimony from dedicated members of law enforcement and other witnesses, led the jurors to the correct verdict of Guilty on all counts.”

If you have any questions or would like further information please contact Assistant State Attorney Joshua Wertheim in the Sarasota County office at 941-861-4400.