Man sentenced to life for 2014 Arcadia murder

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Derrick Lovett

ARCADIA, Fla. A Hillsborough man was convicted Wednesday of killing a 15-year-old in 2014, the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office said.

Derrick Lovett, 24, was convicted of second-degree murder with a firearm and two counts of attempted second-degree murder with a firearm, according to the state attorney’s office. Lovett was sentenced to life in prison.

Melvin Hearns was killed near Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Spring Street on May 16, 2014.

His cousin, Deandra Williams, picked him up earlier that day, and as they drove through the neighborhood, they passed Lovett’s parked Chevrolet Impala. Lovett stepped out of his car and fired six bullets at Williams’ car, according to prosecutors.

Bullets hit Hearns in the head and hip. Williams was wounded by shots through both of her legs. A witness saw Lovett standing near his car shooting at Williams’ passing car, prosecutors said.

Lovett’s intentions remain unclear.

“This was a hard-fought case in which justice finally prevailed after two and half years,” lead prosecutor Cliff Ramey said. “The surviving victims and all three families can finally have closure.”

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