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| Derrick Leonard Fussell / 1982 - 2010 |
Derrick Leonard Fussell's criminal career came to a crashing end Thanksgiving eve.
From the Miami Herald:
Miami-Dade police on Friday identified two armed intruders who were killed during a home invasion on Thanksgiving Eve.Clearly, Fussell and his partner in crime, Perez, picked the wrong apartment to rob.
Dead in the robbery attempt: Derrick Fussell, 28, and Gustavo Perez, 23.
Police say the two men burst into the apartment at 17255 SW 95th Ave. at about 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday. The homeowner, Antonio Luis Delpino, 27, fired at the men.
Perez was felled by the gunfire. Fussell jumped from the third-floor apartment in an attempt to escape, and died from his injuries at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
What's not so clear is why Fussell or Perez were on the street in the first place. Both have extensive have criminal histories.
The Herald story doesn't answer that question or offer any information other than what's contained in the Miami Dade Police press release.
So I did a little digging.
Perez, 23, has been arrested for home invasion and attempted murder but apparently never did any jail time. The Clerk of the Court website shows that Perez was convicted and given two years probation as a "youthful offender" on the home invasion and attempted murder charges in 2008.
Fussell's most recent arrest was back in September when he was busted for "Driving While License Suspended/Habitual" which is a felony.
A check of criminal court records shows that Fussell has arrests dating back to 2002.
In July 2003, Fussell was arrested for home invasion robbery, aggravated battery, armed robbery and false imprisonment. The Clerk of the Court website says the cases were closed two months later in August with "no action taken."
In addition to the Driving while license suspended charges and the July 2003 slew of charges, Fussell also has been arrested for various drug possession charges, battery, disorderly conduct and armed robbery. In 2002 he was popped for "improper exhibition of a firearm." The disposition of the firearm case is listed as "nolle pros" which means the State attorney declined to prosecute the case.
But South Florida residents can sleep a little easier tonight.
Wednesday night, Antonio Luis Delpino accomplished in a few seconds what the county criminal justice system hadn't been able to do in 8 years. He took Derrick Fussell off the streets for good.
