Tampa, FL – Five men in Hillsborough County, Florida have been found guilty for the drive-by shooting death of 4-year-old Suni Bell. The jury convicted Andrew Thompson, 26; James Denson, 28; Jaylin Bedward, 26; Quandarious Hammond, 32; and Zvante Sampson, 34 on multiple charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and firing a gun into an occupied vehicle.
The Tragic Incident
The shooting occurred on August 22, 2021, along Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa. Suni Bell was in the backseat of a silver Infiniti with her mother and uncle when the vehicle was tailed by three other cars. Surveillance footage showed a fusillade of bullets fired from the pursuing vehicles.
Investigators recovered approximately 40 bullet casings, though they could not determine which bullet caused Suni’s death. Despite this, prosecutors argued the shared roles of the defendants established culpability for the murder.
Roles of the Defendants
Court testimony revealed the defendants divided their roles during the attack:
- Hammond, Thompson, and Denson fired weapons
- Sampson and Bedward drove two of the pursuing vehicles
Assistant State Attorney John Terry described the incident as a “hunt” targeting the occupants of the Infiniti.
“They knew exactly what they were doing. They were targeting whoever was in that car, and sadly it happened to be Suni Bell,” Terry told the jury.
Family and Community Impact
Suni Bell, who had been missing her third-grade start, was remembered by 13th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Suzy Lopez:
“She lit up every room with her singing in church, her dancing, and her favorite LOL dolls. She was a protective big sister and a daughter who adored her parents.”
The community continues to grieve the senseless death of the young girl.
Defense Arguments
During the two-week trial, defense attorneys argued that it was impossible to determine which defendant fired the fatal bullet.
“A rational person should question why, under the facts of this case, the prosecution has made a blanket over this courtroom with the word ‘they,’” argued defense attorney Daniel Fischetti.
The defense also raised concerns of “guilty by association,” urging jurors to consider the lack of direct evidence against each shooter.
Prosecution Counterargument and Verdict
The state countered by noting the abundance of ballistic evidence and the number of participants in the crime.
“There were too many shooters. There was too much evidence of ballistics at the scene. You don’t get away with murder because you had too many accomplices,” said Assistant State Attorney Anna Ismer.
Jurors ultimately sided with the prosecution, holding all five defendants accountable for the killing of Suni Bell.
Sentencing and Next Steps
Each defendant faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for October 27, 2025.
Lopez emphasized the significance of the verdict:
“Nothing can erase this tragedy, but today’s verdict ensures that those responsible for this senseless murder will be held accountable. We are humbled to stand with the family in our pursuit for justice for Suni.”
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