Javario Barron Use of Deadly Force Review
Following an extensive review, our office has concluded that we cannot refute the assertion by Derek De More that he acted in lawful self-defense of another person in the use of deadly force against thirty-six-year-old Javario Barron on June 20, 2020. Our review determined that the evidence is consistent with Mr. De More’s assertion that he fatally shot Javario Barron as Mr. Barron was strangling a woman in a car, which was occupied by all three individuals. In reaching this conclusion, our office conducted an exhaustive review of all available evidence and applicable legal standards. These steps included but were not limited to:
- reviewing interviews of witnesses
- reviewing video evidence
- reviewing photographic evidence
- reviewing 911 calls, radio communications, and relevant audio
- analyzing autopsy results
- applying the applicable laws
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Investigators found that on the day of the incident Derek De More and a female friend of De More gave Javario Barron a ride to enable Mr. Barron to obtain drugs. The decedent started acting strangely in the car as the three individuals drove away from the location of the drug transaction. Mr. Barron was told to get out of the car by the woman, but he refused. The woman stopped the vehicle in a convenience store parking lot. A security video recording corroborates the woman’s account that Mr. Barron acted aggressively towards her as they argued in the parking lot. According to the woman’s account, Javario Barron threatened her life during this part of the argument. At one point at the convenience store, the woman called 911 to report that a man refused to get out of her car. Nevertheless, Derek De More drove the woman and Javario Barron away from the convenience store before investigators were dispatched to that location.
Mr. Barron and the woman continued to argue in the automobile even after Mr. De More stopped the vehicle in a trailer park. At that location, Javario Barron, who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, climbed over the front seat and began to strangle the woman. Fearing for the woman’s life, Derek De More, who was seated in the driver’s seat next to the woman, fired one shot into Mr. Barron’s chest to stop the assault. Mr. Barron and Mr. De More immediately wrestled over the gun and continued to struggle once outside of the automobile. After the men separated, Javario Barron went to a nearby trailer as Mr. De More and the woman fled from the scene.
Although Mr. De More and the woman face criminal charges related to their subsequent attempts to clean Mr. Barron’s blood off the exterior of the automobile, investigators found no evidence to refute Mr. De More’s claim that Javario Barron was shot while he was assaulting the woman in the vehicle. Mr. De More’s account of the incident was corroborated by the account provided by the woman who had been strangled by Javario Barron.
An autopsy was conducted upon Javario Barron by members of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It was determined that Mr. Barron suffered a single fatal gunshot wound to the chest. The location of this wound is consistent with Mr. De More’s account of the incident.
The name of the female witness to the events resulting in Mr. Barron’s death is being withheld due to Marsy’s Law, as she is a victim of an aggravated assault committed by Javario Barron.
After our thorough analysis, we have determined that the facts and evidence cannot refute the statements by Derek De More that he reasonably believed that had to use deadly force against Javario Barron to prevent the infliction of imminent death or great bodily harm by Mr. Barron against the aforementioned woman. These findings satisfy Florida Statute 776.012. Accordingly, under Florida law, there is no legal basis for criminal charges against Derek De More.
An initial release of materials related to this case is available at this link. These items illustrate the crime scene and key details of the case. Further documents related to the case, including additional photos, reports, and interview transcripts, are available to any member of the public subject to Florida’s Public Records Law; find details on making a request on the State Attorney’s Office Public Records page.