Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Nineteen-year-old Damorie Lamontay Miles faces charges for directing two minors to open fire at an occupied house. Miles has been in Alachua County Jail since September 3 following his arrest for selling marijuana near a school during his house arrest.

The July 23 shooting involved two minors, Isaiah James Ross, 15, and Deontay Eugene Lewis, 16. Lewis faces adult charges for attempted premeditated murder, shooting into an occupied building, and conspiracy to commit murder. Additional information will be provided once he is officially booked into the adult facility.

On July 23, around 2:27 a.m., officers from the Gainesville Police Department answered a shooting call in Highland Court Manor. The investigation revealed four bullet holes in the house’s front window and another impact on the exterior, with five shell casings gathered as evidence.

Surveillance video showed two individuals in dark clothing walking and running in the area.

One of the shell casings was linked to a firearm retrieved during a traffic stop on July 24. Ross reportedly possessed this stolen firearm at the time.

Surveillance footage from Sweetwater Apartments (3101 NE 15th Street) recorded Ross leaving an apartment at 2:15 a.m. on July 23 with another individual. Both were clad in dark clothing and masks, but the masks were lowered, allowing their faces to be identified on camera. The duo returned to a different apartment in the complex at 2:30 a.m.

The second person was identified as Lewis, and Ross and Lewis are currently suspects in the July 23 shooting.

In the course of investigating a prior shooting, detectives acquired a search warrant for Miles’s Instagram account. Allegedly, exchanges were found where Miles instructed Lewis on July 22 to “be ready [tonight],” along with discussions about securing a firearm.

When Miles was arrested on September 3, his cell phone was seized, and messages were found on Lewis’s phone in which the pair discussed getting ammunition. At 1:25 a.m. on July 23, Miles reportedly told Lewis to “get in the window” and “call me wen u get back.” When Miles texted, “Try to get somebody,” Lewis reportedly responded, “most definitely da target.” Lewis called Miles at 2:31 a.m.

The detective noted that the messages and calls support “the belief that the shooting was orchestrated by Miles and carried out by Lewis and Ross.”

Miles has been charged with attempted premeditated homicide, shooting into a dwelling, and conspiracy to commit murder, on top of his previous charges of violating probation and selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school.

Miles was arrested in 2023, when he was 17, and charged as an adult with possession of oxycodone, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent, and possession of a firearm by a minor under 18. He entered a plea of nolo contendere to the first two charges (both felonies), and the third charge was dropped. Judge James Colaw sentenced him in March 2024 to 364 days in jail with credit for 58 days served, followed by a year of community control (house arrest) and then three years of drug offender probation.

In June 2025, Miles sent a letter to Judge Colaw, asking for early termination of his community control. In the letter, he wrote, “I fully acknowledge the seriousness of my offense and have used this time under supervision to reflect, grow, and make meaningful changes in my life… I have maintained consistent employment… I have taken steps to better myself and be a positive contributor to my community and family… I am requesting early termination so that I can continue to move forward in my life with fewer restrictions, pursue additional employment and personal opportunities, and continue to be a law-abiding, productive member of society.” Judge Colaw denied the request.

Miles has juvenile convictions between 2019 and 2024, along with the two adult felonies.

Judge Phillip Pena ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.