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Jourdain "JBlacc" Larose, 28, of Ellicott City, pleaded guilty this week in connection to the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Juan Ross in 2020, federal authorities announced.
According to his plea deal, Larose accused the Howard County resident of working with law enforcement, including on a live social media conversation and in text messages, leading to a plan to take him out.
Larose provided a gun to one person on Sept. 12, 2020, with the intention of murdering Ross, though as of Oct. 3 that year, when the deed had not yet been done, he solicited Tyrik Braxton to commit the murder instead.
That same day, Braxton reached out to Daquante Thomas with the address where Ross could be found.
Earlier story - Baltimore Hitman Nicknamed 'Glock' Confesses In Murder-For-Hire Plot
The following day, after exchanging messages about where they could find their victim, Braxton, Thomas, and a third person drove to the area of Basket Ring Court in Columbia, where they ultimately wound up killing Ross and driving away.
Following their arrests, the three denied knowing each other, but investigators were able to link Larose and Braxton through phone records, including a fateful FaceTime days after the murder.
Prosecutors say that on Oct. 7, 2020, Braxton texted Larose "it's going to be hot as s--t out here" to which Larose replied "it already is bro."
As part of his plea, Larose is expected to be sentenced to no more than 40 years in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for February next year.
Braxton pleaded guilty earlier this year and is expected to be sentenced to between 20 and 25 years in federal prison. Thomas has already been hit with 35 years behind bars.
“The prioritizing of money over humanity, in this case, shows just how little (Thomas) values the lives of others,” ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Toni Crosby stated last year.
“We cannot allow individuals like this to walk freely in our communities, willing to murder citizens for the right price. ATF is proud to work alongside our local, state, and federal partners every day to identify and investigate the people responsible for committing acts of violence in Maryland.”
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