Man Sentenced to prison for Shooting Victim Outside His Business in Central Florida

A man was sentenced for a shooting where the victim was gunned down outside of his business in Central Florida.

The murder charge stemmed from the shooting at Colonial Plaza on May 28, 2024, in Inverness, FL. Deputies from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to the plaza after reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the man victim, later identified as Traske C. Johnson, in the parking lot with several gunshot injuries. Johnson was taken to a local hospital, where he eventually died from his injuries.

Deputies promptly detained the suspect, Dwann Demetrius Ross Jr., when he was identified on the scene.

Evidence gathered throughout the investigation revealed that both men, who ran separate shops in Colonial Plaza, had gotten into a brief physical conflict. During the confrontation, Ross pulled a firearm and shot Johnson numerous times.

Detectives from the CCSO Criminal Investigations Division arrived shortly after and began their investigation. While speaking with the defendant, he claimed self-defense, blaming the victim as the aggressor.

Further examination into the events leading up to the shooting found that Ross and the victim exchanged furious text messages. Investigators discovered through different texts and witness testimony that the defendant was unhappy with the victim for informing a female companion that he was romantically involved with multiple women. Authorities arrested Ross and charged him with the shooting after they provided him with this evidence and interviewed him.

Dwann Demetrius Ross Jr., 37, was sentenced to life in prison. Ross was recently convicted of second-degree murder with a firearm in the killing of 33-year-old Traske C. Johnson, who was shot outside his store.

“Today’s life sentence ensures this defendant will never again have the opportunity to harm another innocent person,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie. “While no sentence can undo the pain caused by this senseless murder, this outcome delivers justice and holds the defendant fully accountable for taking a life.”

Assistant State Attorneys Blake Shore and Kevin Davis successfully prosecuted the Central Florida case.