PACE, FL – Two Florida teenagers have been indicted on first-degree premeditated murder charges after allegedly luring a 14-year-old classmate into the woods, shooting her multiple times, dousing her body with gasoline, and setting her on fire.
Gabriel Williams, 16, and Kimahri Blevins, 14, face the most serious murder charges available under Florida law in connection with the December killing of Danika Troy. A grand jury returned the indictments Thursday, and both suspects are scheduled for arraignment on January 8.
Troy disappeared on December 1 along with her scooter. Her family initially reported her as a runaway, but her burned remains were discovered in a wooded area the very next day, prompting investigators to launch a homicide investigation.
According to testimony presented to the grand jury, Blevins told investigators that “the initial plan was to shoot Danika once, but Gabriel continued to shoot.” The statement suggests the attack was premeditated but may have escalated beyond what one of the suspects originally anticipated.
Prosecutors have not disclosed a motive for the brutal killing or explained how the suspects allegedly lured their classmate to the remote location. The trio attended school together in the Santa Rosa County area, and investigators are looking into whether any previous disputes may have led to the violence.
The nature of the crime – involving a young victim, two young suspects, and particularly savage methods – has shocked the small Florida Panhandle community. Parents and school officials have expressed disbelief that teenagers could carry out such a calculated and gruesome attack.
Both Williams and Blevins are being held in juvenile detention pending their court appearances. Prosecutors have indicated they intend to try the defendants as adults given the severity of the charges, though formal motions on that matter have not yet been filed.
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses who may have information about the events leading up to Troy’s death.
