FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Chapman
Phone: (904) 255-3004
Cell: (904) 524-6626
ChapmanD@coj.net
May 30, 2024
JURY FINDS LEDBETTER GUILTY OF MURDERING HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND’S BOYFRIEND
State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Devonte Ledbetter guilty of Second-Degree Murder; two counts of Aggravated Battery, and Armed Trespass for two incidents leading to the killing of his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend Christopher Thompson. With the verdict, Ledbetter faces up to life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Mark Borello will sentence Ledbetter at a later date.
On December 7, 2021, Thompson was at his girlfriend’s house when Ledbetter entered her home and struck Thompson numerous times. Thompson’s girlfriend and Ledbetter have children together, and Ledbetter was angry about Thompson being around his children. Ledbetter fled the scene before officers arrived. Thompson was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
On November 6, 2022, Thompson was at his girlfriend’s house. Ledbetter came over unannounced and walked through an opening in the back gate. He confronted Thompson about being around the children. Ledbetter pulled out a firearm and beat him with the weapon. The girlfriend called 911 to report the attack and said Ledbetter was going to kill Thompson. She was inside her home when she heard a gunshot. She went outside to find Thompson with a gunshot wound to his head. Ledbetter ran from the scene. JSO and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue responded to the home on Myrtle Avenue where they found Thompson deceased. Nearby home surveillance video captured audio of the girlfriend yelling for Ledbetter to stop; Ledbetter’s DNA was found under Thompson’s fingernails. After the murder, Ledbetter sent several messages to the girlfriend indicating he did not believe police could prove he was present on scene and tried to persuade her to lie to the police. Two weeks later, Ledbetter fled to North Carolina, where he was arrested. During a jail call, Ledbetter admitted to disposing of the murder weapon because he thought the police were going to search his house.
The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Korey Milo and Rachel Allison.