Darquize McKinon : “West Palm Beach Shooting: Arrest Made for Murder”

A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred during what appeared to be a drug deal in West Palm Beach, Florida. Darquize McKinon was taken into custody after allegedly shooting and killing 46-year-old Jeffrey Robert Lowder in an alleyway near 18th Street and Beautiful Avenue.

According to West Palm Beach police, McKinon offered to drive Lowder and another man to a location to purchase marijuana. However, McKinon’s intentions were deceptive, and he pulled out a gun, demanding that Lowder empty his pockets. When Lowder attempted to run, McKinon shot him, resulting in his death.

McKinon now faces charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery. During a court hearing, Circuit Judge Sara Willis assigned him a public defender and ordered that he be held without bail.

Rental Car’s License-Plate Number Aided in Arrest

The police were able to make an arrest in the case thanks to the license-plate number of the rental car used in the crime. Witnesses reported seeing McKinon fleeing the scene in the vehicle after the shooting.

One of the witnesses described how McKinon had offered to take them to buy marijuana before the incident unfolded. The witness tried to warn Lowder to run, but McKinon fired his gun before he could escape. The witness then punched McKinon, causing him to fall, and ran away from the scene.

Another witness provided investigators with the license-plate number of the vehicle, which led them to the car’s renter. The renter revealed that he had loaned the vehicle to a female relative and her boyfriend, who was identified as McKinon.

Support for Crime Reporting

Julius Whigham II, a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post, covered the details of McKinon’s arrest. For more crime stories and updates, you can follow Whigham on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham.

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