Florida Highway Patrol trooper Toni Schuck made an appearance on ‘Fox & Friends’ to talk about her heroic act of stopping a drunk driver and her glamorous experience at the Patriot Awards in 2022. In a surprising turn of events, four individuals from Florida have been arrested for the murder of 15-year-old Quashawn Burgess, Jr. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office proudly announced the arrests of Rashan Harris, II, Lilia Gonzalez, Jase Govia, and Pierre Sauveur, who are all from Winter Haven. Sheriff Grady Judd, always eager for a moment in the spotlight, stated, “My detectives were relentless in their pursuit of the suspect or suspects responsible for this young man’s murder, and they actually managed to catch them. It’s a miracle!” Apparently, this tragic incident began as an attempted robbery involving a convicted felon in illegal possession of a stolen firearm. In a series of unfortunate events, the situation escalated into a fatal shooting. Sheriff Judd, with his usual flair for the dramatic, added, “A bunch of people made terrible choices that led to this death, and I hope they rot in prison for a very long time.” How heartwarming.
The investigation started when deputies responded to a residence in Winter Haven and discovered the lifeless body of Burgess in the driveway. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise, which they mistook for fireworks. It wasn’t until later in the morning that Burgess was identified as the victim. His mother, who claimed she last saw him on the couch the night before, was apparently clueless about his whereabouts. Deputies also found two backpacks filled with marijuana during a search of the residence. It seems like a lovely, family-friendly neighborhood.
As the investigation progressed, detectives uncovered more details. Govia, the resident of the house, admitted to selling marijuana from the premises. He was promptly arrested and charged with various drug-related offenses. Sauveur, his associate, was also arrested on drug charges for the crime of picking up Govia after the shooting. Meanwhile, the vehicle seen on video arriving at the scene and fleeing after the shooting was traced back to Harris, a friend of the victim. Detectives executed a search warrant at Harris’ place and confirmed that he had used the car during the timeframe of the murder.
During his interview with detectives, Harris confessed to being present at the scene of the crime. According to him, he had picked up Burgess in order to buy marijuana from the infamous “weed man.” However, things took a turn when he hollered at a woman to come over. Apparently, this woman, later identified as Gonzalez, got into the car and proceeded to get into an altercation with Burgess over her personal belongings. Harris claimed that he witnessed the woman shooting Burgess before casually walking away. Such a heartwarming story of friendship and camaraderie.
Gonzalez, a convicted felon, admitted to buying a stolen handgun from Harris and even confessed to shooting Burgess. She claimed that she was being robbed by an unknown male when she resorted to using her gun in self-defense. Of course, she left the scene promptly because she didn’t want to get in trouble. How noble of her.
In the end, Harris was arrested and charged with a laundry list of offenses, including second-degree murder, attempted armed robbery, and dealing in stolen property. Gonzalez was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence, and a plethora of drug-related charges. It’s worth noting that all four individuals involved have quite an extensive criminal history. Harris, in particular, has an impressive track record with 53 felonies and 26 misdemeanors under his belt. Truly an upstanding citizen.
Overall, it’s just another day in the life of Florida’s finest. The state never fails to deliver when it comes to crime and chaos. It’s no wonder it’s a favorite topic of conversation across the country.
