CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – A Citrus County jury has found Dwann Demetrius Ross Jr., 37, guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm in the fatal shooting of a local business owner outside a shopping plaza in Inverness.
The verdict was returned Thursday, January 15, 2026, following a multi-day trial centered on the May 28, 2024, shooting death of 33-year-old Traske C. Johnson. After the jury’s decision, Ross was remanded into custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2026.
Deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Colonial Plaza in Inverness after reports of a shooting in the parking lot. When deputies arrived, they found Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Ross, who operated a separate business within the same plaza, was identified at the scene and detained. Detectives with the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division took over the case and interviewed Ross, who initially claimed he acted in self-defense.
Investigators determined that Ross and Johnson had been involved in a brief physical altercation shortly before the shooting. During that confrontation, Ross retrieved a handgun and fired multiple shots at Johnson, according to evidence presented at trial.
Further investigation revealed the conflict escalated after a heated text message exchange between the two men. Detectives testified that Ross was angry over allegations that Johnson had told a female acquaintance that Ross was romantically involved with multiple women. Witness testimony and digital evidence contradicted Ross’ self-defense claim.
In August 2025, a judge denied Ross’ Stand Your Ground motion after determining his use of deadly force was not justified under Florida law, allowing the case to proceed to trial.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Blake Shore and Kevin Davis.
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