Duval County Jury Finds Darius Person Guilty of Murder, Armed Burglary

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces a Duval County jury found Darius Peron guilty of Second-Degree Felony Murder, Armed Burglary, and Attempted Armed Robbery. With the verdict, Person faces up to life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Tatiana Salvador will sentence Person at a later date.

On Feb. 27, 2024, Person met up with two of his friends for a planned home invasion robbery at an apartment on Lane Avenue where drugs were being trafficked. Just after noon, the three went into the apartment armed and were met with gunfire. During the crime, one of Person’s friends was shot and killed. Person and the co-defendant – Gabriel Woods – ran from the scene. The tenant of the apartment also ran from the scene; the tenant retained counsel on the same day as the crime who told officers that he was defending himself. Detectives arrived on scene and found the victim dead in the kitchen of the apartment with a bullet wound to his head. Drugs were recovered from the scene.

Woods previously pleaded guilty to the court for the same charges on Nov. 6, 2024.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kelli Shobe, Elizabeth McEwan, and Rachel Duckworth.