GROVELAND, Florida—The teen wanted in connection with the murders of three teenagers last month in Marion County was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Saturday, south of Groveland, according to a Facebook post by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Inside Lake was tipped off Tahj Brewton, 16, was in custody, but LCSO was “unable to confirm,” shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday.
On Friday Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods announced Brewton was wanted and two other juveniles had been arrested in the murders of Layla Silvernail and Camille Quarles, both 16. A 17-year-old boy was also murdered, but his name has not been publicly released. All three teens were found shot to death in Marion County between March 30 and April 1. Silvernail and the boy were found shot on the side of different roads, several miles away from each other. Quarles was found in the trunk of Silvernail’s car, a white Chevy Cruze, that was found dumped in a pond near Ocklawaha April 1.
Woods said deputies believe all three teens were murdered at the same time, even though they were found in different locations, he said in a press conference Friday.
Robert Le’Andrew Robinson, 17, and Christopher De’l Atkins. 12, have been arrested and charged in the murders; Brewton was picked up on outstanding juvenile pickup orders for armed carjacking, aggravated assault, grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. A juvenile pickup order is the equivalent of an arrest warrant for an adult. More charges are forthcoming for Brewton, according to the Facebook post.
