Florida man sentenced to life for fatally shooting teen after luring him in 'catfishing' scheme

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA: A Florida man received a life sentence for his involvement in a "catfishing" scheme aimed at killing a 19-year-old gay man. The perpetrator believed the victim had spread false information about his sexual orientation.

Jakari D Webb, aged 21, was convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm for the killing of 19-year-old Telan K Mann. Webb was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

State Attorney described the case as 'premeditated' murder

State Attorney RJ Larizza described the case as "a classic example of premeditation," referring to the defendant's deliberate execution of the victim.

Larizza said, “He lay in wait, armed with a semi-automatic handgun. The fact that he shot our victim nine times leaves no doubt that his sole intention was murder.”

According to Webb's defense lawyer, as reported by the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Webb had no association with the murder.

However, authorities stated that they were able to link the defendant's cellphone to the murder weapon, the victim, and the homicide through court documents and testimony from investigators.

Furthermore, they managed to trace the defendant's arrival at the crime scene and his subsequent departure through video surveillance footage to a residence.

On June 23, 2022, the day Mann died, officers patrolling near Oak Tree Circle and Forest Glen Boulevard in Daytona Beach heard gunfire just before 2 am. They found Mann's bullet-riddled body lying in a pool of blood on a sidewalk.

Police stated that six empty shell casings discovered near the victim suggested that the suspect was either in the vicinity of the victim or had been lying in wait for them before the shooting occurred, according to News Flash.

Jakari Webb admitted to shooting Telan Mann

Webb was arrested days later. According to an affidavit, the victim's final moments were unveiled through a text exchange between Webb and Mann arranging to meet up.

As per the affidavit, Webb was observed on camera crouching behind a grassy hill at the intersection of Oak Tree and Forest Glen, evidently attempting to conceal himself from the victim.

The footage shows the defendant firing multiple shots at the victim as the latter walks around the small grass hill, after which the defendant flees the scene.

According to detectives, the defendant was captured on camera running through the parking lots of the City of Daytona Beach Public Works.

Additionally, they found footage of him concealing himself in the bushes on the property, where he was seen holding a black shirt and a light-colored sweater, and at one point without a shirt.

He was seen running into a yard, ducking behind an RV, and then emerging again and running into a wood line as a car passed in a Ring doorbell video, according to the document.

As per the court documents, after his arrest, Webb provided investigators with conflicting accounts regarding his whereabouts at the time of the murder.

When confronted by the detective about his inconsistencies and informed that the police had video evidence tracking his movements, Webb pretended not to understand what the detective was saying.

“But after further interviewing,” the affidavit said, “Webb admitted to shooting Telan Mann and claimed it to be self-defense due to Telan Mann attacking him with a knife.”

Jakari Webb communicated with Telan Mann using a fictitious Instagram account

According to the affidavit, Webb asserted that he took the knife after shooting Mann, then later admitted that the victim did not possess a knife.

Court documents outlining the "catfishing" scheme stated that Webb admitted to communicating with Mann via the internet since February 2022 using a fictitious Instagram account.

According to the documents, Webb also told the police that Mann had started claiming that he was gay and that some people had started to believe him.

“So Webb advised he created the fake Instagram to get back at Telan Mann,” the affidavit said.

According to court documents, he acknowledged that the shooting was an accident, and he revealed that the weapon used to kill him was a 9 mm handgun found beneath a basketball hoop. Mann endeavored to lead a life imbued with love and peace, according to his obituary.

“He loved people and the need to feel loved, he was always smiling, cheerful and was all about family,” the obit said.