A man claiming to have killed three men in self-defense on Wed morning in Daytona Beach, Florida, was recently arrested and identified as Jerome Lloyd Anderson, a 38-year-old with a troubling criminal history.
Anderson identified himself to authorities after he called 911 following the murders. Three victims were found with fatal gunshot wounds within the same area. Antoine Desmond Melvin, 42, was found in a kitchen at 613 Park Drive, John Burch, 64, was found next to the road on Park Drive directly in front of 614 Park Drive, and Patrick Lassiter, 35, was found on South Martin Luther King Boulevard south of Park Drive. Lassiter was taken to a local hospital for treatment but was declared deceased.
Jennifer Whittet, Daytona Beach Police Deputy Chief stated in a news conference that Anderson claimed to have killed his victims in self-defense.
Anderson’s criminal past dates back to 2005 and includes charges of battery and throwing a deadly missile that shattered a window. According to the charges made in the missile case, Anderson had attempted to contact his estranged wife and child in an unwelcome manner. He then allegedly declared he would return with a gun and threw a chunk of cement through a window of his estranged wife’s house.
Currently, Anderson is being held in the Volusia County Jail. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of possession of weapon-ammo by a convicted felon.
Authorities are still trying to determine a motive for the gruesome murders, and the investigation is ongoing.