Ivon Cobbs, 18, was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting on U.S. Highway 19 near Drew Street in Clearwater on the evening of March 8, 2021. The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. when a vehicle pulled alongside the car Ivon was in and fired more than two dozen shots into it. Ivon and three other passengers were taken to hospitals; Ivon died en route. The other victims were Marshae Walton, 31, critically injured, and Yvonne Sanders, 25, and Evers Maxie, 24, seriously injured.

Investigators arrested 19-year-old Derriontae Ward on charges of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder. Ward, described in reports as a chronic offender with 37 prior arrests, was reportedly on bond and wearing a GPS-enabled ankle monitor that placed him at the scene and showed he had been at the same restaurant as the victims before the shooting. He allegedly removed the ankle monitor the day after the incident and was later taken into custody at a relative’s home.

Anyone who knew Ivon, the other victims, or who saw activity on U.S. Highway 19 near Drew Street that night is asked to come forward with information.