JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
*Correction: Ju'Quan Mills remains incarcerated in Clay County jail and charged with two counts of second-degree murder. A previous version of this report incorrectly stated his charges and jail status.
The Jacksonville woman accused of murdering Antonio Tillie, a 19-year-old with a $20,000 bounty "on his head," and Bryant Grund, the Uber driver shot in the crossfire, has pleaded guilty.
The shooting happened on Kylan Drive West on Oct. 6, 2023. On Oct. 19, 2023, Diamond Harris and Ju'Quan Mills were arrested in the case. Police records show Tillie was the target of a $20k hit scheme "due to ongoing gang beef and issues." Grund was driving Tillie to the scene of the crime.
Harris, 23, was originally charged with accessory in the murder when police said she helped Mills lure the two victims to their deaths. However, in Nov. 2023, her charges were upgraded to second-degree murder.
Mills is currently being housed in Clay County jail on two counts of second-degree murder. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 18.
Prosecutors did not release any information shedding light on why Harris' charges were upgraded. However, a document from the State Attorney's Office filing the new charges said that Harris "did actually possess and discharge a firearm," which inflicted death or great bodily harm on someone.
Harris' sentencing date will be set on July 29. She faces a maximum of two life sentences.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said at the time of the arrests there was an outstanding suspect, "known to law enforcement." That name was not released to the public.
What happened?
At the time Harris and Mills were arrested, police said they worked together to lure Tillie to the scene of the crime. Mills told police about the $20k bounty, saying he earned $10,000 and the rest went to a second shooter.
Harris had been talking to Tillie through Instagram, text messages and phone calls, meanwhile consulting Mills about how to keep him "interested," according to police records. However, police say she was feigning interest in Tillie and was in fact dating Mills at the time.
Investigators said Tillie believed he was going to meet a woman -- Harris -- "possibly for a date," and she had provided the address.
Mills originally denied he had been at the scene, but police found text threats where he was coordinating with Harris to bring the victims to Kylan Drive West. JSO also said evidence from his phone showed he was at the scene. First Coast News reached out to the State Attorney's Office to find out why Mills was able to be released.
Harris pleaded with judge: 'Have mercy on me'
After Harris' charges were upgraded, her bond was revoked and she was taken into custody in the Duval County jail. On Jan. 25, Harris submitted a letter to Duval County Judge Jonathan Sacks.
She pleaded her innocence and asked to be allowed to return home to her 2-year-old and her grandmother.
"I am still confused why I'm being held on charges that I played no parts in," she wrote, adding later that she was "nowhere around or aware of the actual situation."
"Knowing that I'm not guilty, I'm not writing you to cut off my sentence, but I am asking that you have mercy on me," she wrote. She said that being away from her son "hinders (her) mental health," as he is questioning when she will come home.
Harris claimed she was blindsided by the situation "without even knowing what was truly happening."
She told the judge that she used to work in the military and has "family and former military coworkers that are able and willing to speak on my character."
She ended the letter by saying: "This is way out of my character and I'd love to show you who I truly am and why I deserve a second chance from you."
The victims
A family member of Tillie spoke briefly to First Coast News after the shooting. "Antonio was imperfect ... he was loving and respectful," said the family member. "He liked to tell jokes. It really tore my family apart."
They told First Coast News they are distraught by the ongoing violence that killed both Tillie and Grund, asking, "When will it stop?"
Grund, the Uber driver and innocent bystander, is remembered as a "really good guy with a great heart." His mother spoke with First Coast News several times in the weeks after his death. She said he was working as an Uber driver temporarily to help his family pay the bills. His family had been planning to move to Georgia soon, as Grund was preparing to start a new job there.
"He was a really good guy with a great heart, and he really tried to provide a good service no matter what he did, and he really was our breadwinner," she said.
She said her life won't be the same without him. "He was a rock-solid guy. He really did represent truth well, and he really did love big," she said.
