A Citrus County jury has convicted Dwann Demetrius Ross Jr., 37, of second-degree murder with a firearm, rejecting his claim that a deadly 2024 shooting involving a fellow business owner was committed in self-defense.
The verdict was delivered Thursday in a case centered on the death of Traske C. Johnson, 33, who was shot and killed in the parking lot of Colonial Plaza in Inverness. Following the jury’s decision, Ross was taken into custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2026.
The conviction stems from a violent confrontation on May 28, 2024, when deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire at the plaza. Upon arrival, deputies found Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Ross was detained at the scene and admitted to shooting Johnson, maintaining that he acted in self-defense. However, prosecutors Blake Shore and Kevin Davis presented evidence that contradicted that claim.
Investigators testified that both men operated separate businesses within the same plaza. The confrontation reportedly followed a brief physical altercation, during which Ross drew a handgun and fired multiple shots at Johnson.
Testimony and digital evidence introduced at trial indicated the dispute was personal rather than business-related. Authorities presented a series of heated text messages exchanged prior to the shooting. Investigators said tensions escalated after Johnson told a female acquaintance that Ross was romantically involved with multiple women, which allegedly angered Ross.
Ross previously sought dismissal of the case during a “Stand Your Ground” hearing in August 2025, arguing that his use of deadly force was legally justified. The court denied the motion, ruling that the evidence did not support a self-defense claim, allowing the case to proceed to trial and ultimately leading to this week’s conviction.