Two sentence to life in prison for attempted murder in Sarasota

The crimes were committed on November 23, 2022, and investigated by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. The trial was held at the Sarasota County Courthouse on November 4, 2024, through November 14, 2024.

The crimes of Attempted 1st Degree Murder with a Firearm, Witness Tampering, and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm causing Great Bodily harm carried a maximum possible sentence of Life in Prison. The other charges carried a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The minimum mandatory sentences for Attempted 1st Degree Murder with a Firearm and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm are 25 years to Life in Prison.

The State sought a sentencing enhancement of the penalty under Florida’s 10-20-Life, Florida Statute 775.087.

Sentencing occurred on January 31, 2025.

On November 23, 2022, Carlos Herrera and Akeleis Dumbar entered Jamari Williams’ neighborhood in the cover of night, through a broken resident’s gate, parked their car, and waited for Jamari Williams to come home. They laid in wait for more than 40 minutes until Williams returned home and parked his vehicle in front of his townhome. At that point, Herrera and Dumbar drove their vehicle next to Williams’ and unleashed gunfire into Williams’ vehicle and home. More than 17 rounds of bullets were fired into Williams’ body before Herrera and Dumbar fled the property. EMTs rushed Williams to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital where trauma surgeons operated to repair the damage inflicted upon him. Bullets dissected Williams’ liver, small bowel, and were lodged in his brain. Against all odds, Williams survived but remains paralyzed on his right side.

The lead prosecutor in the case, Assistant State Attorney Megan Leaf commented, “The strength and resiliency of Jamari Williams and his family is unparalleled. While no amount of time will ever fully restore Mr. Williams, the jury’s verdict and Court’s sentence provided the justice he and his family deserved.”