Two men arrested in deadly Tavares shooting investigation, officials say
Tavares police have arrested Jonathan Erickson Louis and Edwin Hypolite Francillon in connection to the shooting death of De’Angelo Donta McKnight. Credit: Brevard County Jail
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - Two people have been arrested in connection to the Oct. 25 shooting and killing of 26-year-old De’Angelo Donta McKnight at an apartment complex in Tavares, according to the Tavares Police Department.
Two arrested in deadly shooting at Tavares apartment complex
What we know:
Police said Thursday 24-year-old Jonathan Erickson Louis was arrested on Oct. 28 and booked into jail on two counts of accessory after the fact.
On Friday, police said Edwin Hypolite Francillon, 34, surrendered at the Lake County Jail and was booked on charges of manslaughter with a firearm and aggravated battery.
While the arrest report for Louis was released, police said that the arrest report for Francillon had been ordered sealed.
What we don't know:
Few details about the circumstances of the shooting have been released, including the connection, if any, between the victim and the suspects.
Affidavit: Two masked men approached McKnight before shooting
The backstory:
According to the arrest report, around 2:20 a.m. on Oct. 25, police responded to 1000 E. Caroline Street regarding a shooting and found McKnight lying face down on the sidewalk. Another male, described as a witness, was standing over him yelling and crying, police said.
McKnight was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said in their report that officers were told two masked men had approached the victim. However, what happened after that is unclear, as police have redacted that part of the report.
Prior to the shooting, the report mentioned a possible reckless vehicle that was speeding near downtown, before an officer lost sight of it. The report also mentioned that family members of McKnight began to arrive at the hospital, though it's unclear what was discussed as the report is redacted.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Tavares Police Department’s non-emergency line at 352-343-2101 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
The Source: This story was written based on information provided by the Tavares Police Department on October 29, 2026.