BOCA RATON, Fla. – A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and is facing charges as an adult in the shooting death of his alleged best friend. The teenager initially claimed self-defense, confessing to the shooting during a phone call with the sheriff’s office. However, evidence discovered by detectives tells a different story.
Kaleb Cobourne, 18, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on August 7, according to law enforcement officials. The murder weapon, a Taurus G2C 9 mm, was found near the scene with an empty magazine, suggesting it had been fired until it ran out of bullets. Investigators also uncovered nine shell casings in the backyard of the Boca Raton home.
Dylan Dantas, the 15-year-old suspect, was taken into custody and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail. After a thorough investigation, the initial charge of first-degree murder was reduced to second-degree murder. The evidence collected from text messages, cellphone records, and surveillance footage contradicts the teenager’s claims of self-defense.
The sequence of events began with text messages exchanged between Dantas and Cobourne on the morning of August 7. Dantas provided his home address and waited for Cobourne’s arrival. Meanwhile, he sent another text message saying, Waiting on u doe.
At 11:52 a.m., the two friends Facetimed each other. Just two minutes later, Dantas made a frantic call to 911, claiming that he had killed someone in his backyard. Law enforcement promptly arrived at the scene and found Dantas in the front yard, where they detained him for questioning.
Upon reviewing the surveillance footage from the backyard, detectives made a chilling discovery. The video aligned with the timing of the Facetime call between Cobourne and Dantas. In the recording, Dantas can be heard instructing Cobourne to come to the backyard. Cobourne is seen entering the premises shirtless and unarmed, while Dantas appears to advance towards him, brandishing a firearm from his pocket. Nine gunshots are then heard, indicating that Dantas fired repeatedly at the unarmed victim.
During the subsequent 911 call, Dantas claimed that Cobourne had threatened him and tried to enter his house. However, text messages obtained from Cobourne’s girlfriend contradict this claim, with one message stating, Ur taking this way outta proportion Kaleb isn’t even mad.
Although the motive behind the disagreement between Dantas and Cobourne remains undisclosed, a disturbing text message sent by Dantas just minutes before the incident hints at premeditation. He texted his friends, saying, Ima have to (popcorn emoji) his s***.
Dylan Dantas has been held without bond since his arrest earlier this week. A court document filed recently requests a grand jury to consider the testimonies of three witnesses, including a Coconut Creek officer and a PBSO detective. Their statements, coupled with the existing evidence, will help determine whether Dantas will be indicted for murder or face additional criminal charges.
The arraignment hearing for Dylan Dantas is scheduled for next week. As the case progresses, investigators continue to delve into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, aiming to shed light on the tragic loss of a young life.
