In Daytona Beach, Florida on Thursday, April 4, 2024, 21-year-old Jakari D. Webb was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder of 19-year-old Telan K. Mann.
The sentencing follows Webb’s conviction of first-degree murder with a firearm, ending a case that has highlighted the perils of online deception and its potentially lethal outcomes.
The incident, which happened on June 23, 2022, saw Webb engaging in a “catfishing” scheme where he lured Mann to a specific location under a fictitious online persona with the intent of murdering him. The ruse was motivated by the perpetrator’s belief that the victim was circulating rumors about his sexual orientation.
Catfishing refers to creating a fake identity on social media platforms and other online spaces, often intending to deceive someone. This can involve using someone else’s pictures and making up life stories, occupations, friends, and other social details to create a believable alter ego.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza said that Webb’s actions were a clear case of premeditated murder, evidenced by Webb arming himself and waiting for Mann before shooting him nine times. This act, according to Larizza, left no doubt as to Webb’s intent to kill.
Despite Webb’s defense arguing a lack of direct evidence linking him to the crime during the trial, the prosecution presented substantial evidence connecting Webb’s cell phone to the murder weapon and the victim. This, along with video surveillance, showed Webb at the crime scene before and after Mann was shot, including footage of Webb hiding before ambushing Mann.
Law enforcement discovered Mann’s body on a sidewalk, riddled with bullets, after being alerted to gunshots in the vicinity of Oak Tree Circle and Forest Glen Boulevard. The scene was marked by several shell casings, indicating a shooting at close range.
Investigations further unveiled a text conversation between Webb and Mann, setting up their meeting on that night, alongside surveillance footage capturing Webb’s attempts to conceal his actions and evade detection after the murder. Initially, Webb gave conflicting accounts regarding his location at the time of the killing but eventually confessed. While he initially claimed self-defense, alleging Mann had attacked him with a knife, Webb later recanted this statement.
Webb admitted to investigators that he had created a fake Instagram account to communicate with Mann, driven by Mann’s alleged claims about Webb’s sexuality. Despite initially describing the shooting as accidental, Webb eventually acknowledged that the 9 mm handgun found under a basketball hoop near the scene was the murder weapon.
Telan K. Mann’s obituary portrayed him as an individual who endeavored to live with peace and love, a testament to his joyful and family-oriented spirit. This tragic incident serves as a sad reminder of the severe consequences stemming from digital deceit and retaliatory violence.
The life sentence handed to Webb acts as a judicial recognition of the crime’s premeditated nature and the tragic loss of a promising young life, reinforcing the need for awareness and caution in digital engagements.