A 26-year-old Marion County man was found guilty in the shooting death of an 18-year-old.
A jury found 26-year-old Ralph Fontil Jr. guilty in the shooting death of 18-year-old Kobe Bradshaw, which occurred on June 5, 2021. Fontil was originally indicted by a grand jury in December of 2021 and charged with Premeditated First-Degree Murder with a Firearm.
“Today, justice has been served for Kobe. This verdict not only holds the defendant accountable for their actions but also acknowledges the profound pain and loss experienced by the victim’s family,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson. “No verdict can bring back their loved one, but we hope it brings them some measure of solace knowing that the truth has been recognized in a court of law.”
Just shortly before 4pm, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) received a call in reference to an individual being shot. When first responders arrived on scene, they located Kobe Bradshaw with multiple gunshot wounds. Kobe was transported to the hospital where he would later succumb to his injuries.
Officials on scene were able to speak to witnesses who advised they saw two subjects with ski masks run from the incident location. After surveilling the neighborhood, investigators were able to obtain security footage from a residence that showed the two individuals near the homicide, as well as an older Ford F-150 in the area before and after the incident. While further investigating, officials were able to identify the truck and operator.
Five days later, MCSO Detective Brent Castellano located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Fontil was placed behind the wheel and given commands to exit the vehicle. He refused, and when law enforcement approached he indicated he had a firearm in his waistbelt. Officials were able to secure the firearm and escort Fontil out of the truck.
Fontil refused to speak with detectives regarding the shooting.
The vehicle was subsequently seized as evidence and a search uncovered one loaded and one empty Glock magazine and AK-47 ammunition. The ammunition in the Glock magazine was of the same brand as some of the shell casings from the crime scene. Additionally, forensics evidence revealed a fingerprint matching 17-year-old Brandon Merizier, who was identified as the second suspect in the shooting.
Cell phone records further indicated both defendants were near the shooting before and after it occurred and that they communicated multiple times leading up to the murder. Investigators also located further surveillance footage that showed Merizier’s car near the crime scene. Additionally, law enforcement discovered a deleted file on Merizier’s phone that contained other incriminating evidence linking both him and Fontil to the murder.
Assistant State Attorneys Toby Hunt and Rich Buxman successfully prosecuted the case.
