On September 25, Devandre Bernard Williams, 20, of Palm Coast, was sentenced to prison for his involvement in the murders of Noah Smith and Keymarion Hall.
Williams entered a plea deal in both cases for two counts of 2nd Degree Murder and one count of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder.
Judge Terence Perkins of the Seventh Judicial Circuit sentenced Williams to 55 years on each of the two counts of murder and 30 years for attempted murder, all of which will run concurrently. Under current law, Williams is eligible for review for each case after 15 years in Smith’s murder and 25 years in Hall’s murder.
Williams was the driver in the January 2022 murder of 16-year-old Noah Smith on South Anderson Street in Bunnell. Then, in May 2022, Williams shot and killed 16-year-old Keymarion Hall in Bunnell near the same location of Smith’s murder. The Investigations were started by the Bunnell Police Department but later turned over to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FSCO) Major Case Unit.
Three others were also arrested in the investigations, Terrell Sampson, Tyrese Patterson, and Stephen Monroe, for their involvement. Patterson was originally scheduled to be sentenced on September 25, but it was continued until a later date.
Devandre Williams (Flagler Co. Jail Mugshot)
“This dirtbag will spend a long time in prison for his crimes,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I had promised the families of Noah and Keymarion families that we would hold the killers accountable. While I know this can’t bring back their loved ones, I hope knowing the killers are receiving long prison sentences brings them a feeling of justice,” said Sheriff Rick Salary. “This was a difficult investigation for the Major Crimes Unit. Detectives worked more than 2,500 hours investigating this case.”
Original Press Releases Below:
After a few days in hiding, 18-year-old Terrell Sampson was found and arrested today for Attempted Second Degree Murder in the Noah Smith homicide. Additionally, 30-year-old Russell Hillard was arrested for harboring a fugitive after deputies spoke with him earlier today during their search for Sampson.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) Major Case Unit (MCU) Detectives, the Fugitive Unit, and PACE have been actively and continuously searching for Sampson since a warrant was signed for his arrest earlier this week. Utilizing investigative techniques and with the assistance of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Sampson was ultimately located inside a Wedge Lane residence this afternoon. He eventually surrendered after refusing multiple commands and was taken into custody without further incident. Following his apprehension, Hillard exited the residence and was arrested for his role in hiding the fugitive.
“Today, Sampson has joined his accomplices behind bars alongside six other key players in the many incidents that occurred throughout the six-month-long investigation,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “He thought he could run and avoid facing the consequences for his actions, but I never break a promise. I warned him that we would get him, and we held strong to that. I hope his arrest brings some peace and closure to the families of Noah and Keymarion and that all of these dirtbags are sent away for a long time. I’d like to thank the FDLE, our Crisis Negotiations Team, SWAT, and all the deputies involved in apprehending Sampson, including the second guy who thought harboring a fugitive was a good idea.”
Hillard is being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is being charged with Felony Accessory After the Fact and Resisting Officer without Violence.
Sampson is being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on no bond and is being charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder.
Additional charges may be pending further investigation.
Three Arrested in Bunnell Teen Homicides, One At-Large, All Charged with either 1stor 2nd Degree Murder – Six Others Connected to the Murders Arrested on Various Charges
A Tuesday afternoon press conference was held at the Kim. C. Hammond Justice Center began with an announcement of three arrests in the Noah Smith and Keymarion Hall homicides, with one suspect still at large and all suspects facing murder charges.
Sheriff Staly, State Attorney RJ Larizza, and Bunnell Police Chief Brannon announced the arrests of 20-year-old Tyrese Patterson, 23-year-old Stephen Monroe, and 18-year-old Devandre Williams, who are all being charged with First Degree Murder, and 18-year-old Terrell Sampson who has a warrant for his arrest for Attempted Second Degree Murder for the homicide of Noah Smith. In addition to the murder charge in Noah’s death, Williams is facing charges of Second-Degree Murder and Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm for the homicide of Keymarion Hall.
During the evening hours of January 12, the Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a report of a shooting that occurred on South Anderson Street in Bunnell, where 16-year-old Noah Smith was killed. This investigation was started by the Bunnell Police Department and later turned over to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit (MCU).
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) also led the investigation of the May 3 homicide of 16-year-old Keymarion Hall, who was shot and killed in Bunnell in proximity to Smith’s murder location. The Sheriff’s Office has been contracted to handle all major cases for the City of Bunnell.
“The Major Case detectives worked over 2,500 hours and served 40 warrants in these cases,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “These were difficult cases based on the intertwining of the suspects, relatives, and friends wanting to settle disputes with street justice. I’m very proud of everyone who worked so hard and their dedication to finding justice for Noah and Keymarion and their families. All four of these dirtbags played an active role in taking the lives of these two young victims and will be spending their futures behind bars. I hope today’s arrests help bring closure for the families, knowing the murderers and their accomplices are being held accountable.”
Throughout the investigation, Major Case Unit (MCU) Detectives observed multiple social media profiles, interactions, messages, comments, aggressive music content, and pictures to piece together the involvement of all four suspects. Social media footprints played a large role in evidence gathering and proving pre-meditation.
During the investigation, it was also discovered there were two opposing sides to the local violence, including the “Bunnell” side and the “Palm Coast” side. These two groups chose “street justice” to resolve disputes instead of cooperating with law enforcement, which delayed detectives in gathering the evidence needed to arrest the suspects.
“I want the community to understand the magnitude of an investigation like this,” Sheriff Staly added. “Detectives had to not only find the evidence but work through multiple stories that didn’t match the evidence, while certain members of the community preferred to take street justice into their own hands. Multiple incidents took place involving a handful of subjects that were linked to these senseless murders. Detectives worked endless hours to build solid cases, and I hope these guys all get maximum sentences for their violent crimes.”
Today, the three suspects are being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on no bond, while Sampson is at large. Tyrese Patterson, Stephen Monroe, and Devandre Williams are all being charged with First Degree Murder, and Terrell Sampson is being charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder in the homicide of Noah Smith. Additionally, Devandre Williams is being charged with Second Degree Murder and Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm in the homicide of Keymarion Hall.
Linked to some of the crimes and the suspects involved in both homicides, several other subjects were arrested during the investigation. All are loosely related to the murder investigations and are in custody on various drug charges, weapon/violence-related felony offenses, or probation violations. These additional subjects being held in the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility are 19-year-old Jebea Johnson, 28-year-old Edward Sampson, 19-year-old Keyshawn Davis, 20-year-old Josiah Feimster, and 20-year-old Rodrick Williams. Additionally, 14-year-old Lawrence Fullmore was released to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) following his arrest earlier this month for Robbery with a Weapon.
Johnson is an unindicted co-conspirator but is facing charges of Domestic Battery, Resist Officer without Violence, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Tampering with Evidence, Improper Exhibition of a Weapon, Possession of Weapon/Ammo by Convicted Felon, Violation of No Contact Order and Harassing – Felony in 2nd Degree in a separate case.
Edward Sampson is facing charges of Violation of Probation for Drug Possession and Petit Theft, along with Battery of a Detained Person.
Davis and Fullmore are both facing charges of Robbery with a Weapon.
Feimster is facing charges for Possession of Fentanyl, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana 20g or more, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Trafficking Heroin, Driving While License Suspended with Knowledge, Possession of a Controlled Substance without Prescription, Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle and Criminal Mischief.
Williams is facing charges for Possession of Marijuana 20g or More, Violation of Probation, Battery of a Detained Person, and Possession of Cannabinoids with Intent to Sell.
