A murder suspect was arrested this week for his alleged involvement in the 2022 shooting death of an 18-year-old man in Sanford.
Earlier this week, Sanford Police Department investigators arrested Thallas Jerome Inman, Jr., 23, in connection with the November 2022 murder of 18-year-old Isaiah Ezrah Diaz.
On November 20, 2022, at around 1:30 p.m., SPD officers responded to the Hatteras Sound Apartments located at 13000 Island Bay Circle in reference to shots being fired.
When officers arrived, they located a vehicle parked in the parking lot of the complex that showed signs of damage caused by gunfire. Inside the vehicle, police located the deceased victim, Diaz, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Two additional victims were located and one of them was transported to a local hospital with gunshot wounds.
Through the course of their investigation, investigators determined that multiple subjects approached the vehicle with semi-automatic firearms and opened fire on the vehicle and its occupants.
“Based on the investigation, probable cause was established indicating that Inman was one of the gunmen involved in the homicide of (Diaz),” said SPD in a social media post on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Inman was already in custody at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility on a slew of charges related to a separate homicide investigation. He was placed under arrest and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Diaz.
“While we cannot bring Isaiah back to his family, we do hope that this arrest is a step towards healing for Isaiah’s family,” said Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith. “Our Investigators have continued to work every lead on this case, determined that the perpetrators face justice. They will continue to do so in order to ensure all of those involved in taking Isaiah from him loved ones will be held accountable.”
The investigation into Diaz’s murder remains ongoing, according to police.
If anyone has any information about this homicide or the location of any remaining suspects, please call the Sanford Police Department at 407-688-5070. Anonymous tips can also be provided by calling 1-800-423-TIPS(8477).