TAMPA, FL – Justice, though slow, arrived today for the victims of a chillingly calculated murder-for-hire in St. Petersburg. Kermon Williams, a/k/a “The General” (42, St. Petersburg), James Higgs, Jr., a/k/a “Hammer” (40, St. Petersburg), and Jhaphre Higgs, a/k/a “Pre” (35, St. Petersburg) were each sentenced to life in federal prison, followed by an additional 20 years, for the brutal deaths of Tywan Armstrong and Roger Ford.
The jury found the trio guilty on June 24, 2022, after evidence revealed Williams, motivated by a turf war in the drug trade, directed the Higgs brothers to eliminate Armstrong, whom he perceived as a threat. The deal? Cash, drugs, and a deadly AR-15 rifle. The first attempt on Armstrong’s life, back on September 22, 2018, failed, leaving him wounded but alive. But Williams wasn’t satisfied. He allegedly ordered the hitmen to make the next attempt “as public as possible,” sending a clear message to anyone challenging his control.
On January 21, 2019, the message was delivered with horrific efficiency. Jhaphre and James Higgs, Jr. unleashed a hail of gunfire – from both the AR-15 and a .40 caliber pistol – on Armstrong’s car while it was stopped at a busy St. Petersburg gas station, packed with unsuspecting bystanders. Armstrong absorbed 28 bullets. Roger Ford, a front-seat passenger, was struck 11 times. A rear passenger also sustained injuries. Despite the frantic efforts of St. Petersburg Police Department officers and Fire Rescue personnel, both Armstrong and Ford succumbed to their wounds.
This wasn’t the first brush with the law for any of these men. Kermon Williams previously served time for a lewd and lascivious act involving a child under 16. Jhaphre Higgs had a prior conviction for aggravated battery with a firearm. And James Higgs, Jr. was previously convicted of being an accessory after the fact to murder. The lengthy criminal histories of the defendants underscore a pattern of disregard for the law and a willingness to resort to violence.
“This demonstrates how science – in this case, digital ballistics technology – can breathe life into violent gun crime cases,” stated ATF Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Craig W. Saier. The investigation, spanning over three years, involved the ATF, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Former Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams initiated the case, with Assistant United States Attorneys Craig R. Gestring and Charlie D. Connally ultimately securing the convictions at trial.
Federal officials say this case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaborative law enforcement and community engagement. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing trust-building, community support, strategic enforcement, and measurable results. But for Armstrong and Ford, and their families, the results came far too late. The streets of St. Petersburg are a little quieter, but the echoes of those 39 bullets will linger for years to come.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News