By Palm Beach and Broward Mugshots LLC
LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. — Court and arrest records describe a coordinated plot that ended with 20-year-old Dean Hyatt being shot to death in the parking lot of the Caravel Arms Apartments on August 4, 2018.
The case involved Hyatt’s former girlfriend, Kizzie Lameka Shokim Thomas; Richard Michael Cunningham II; Miguel “Guel” Harvey; and Kemarley “Brisco” Wilson.
HYATT FOUND DEAD IN APARTMENT PARKING LOT
According to a Broward Sheriff’s Office probable-cause affidavit, deputies and fire-rescue personnel responded to the apartment complex at approximately 4:30 a.m. after a towing-company employee discovered Hyatt lying unresponsive near his Mercedes-Benz.
Hyatt had suffered multiple gunsh0t wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators recovered spent shell casings near his body.
Surveillance footage, witness statements and cellphone records would eventually reveal what investigators described as a plan to lure Hyatt into the parking lot.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THOMAS LURED HYATT TO THE LOCATION
According to the affidavit, Thomas communicated with Hyatt and arranged for him to meet her at the apartment complex.
Investigators later recovered deleted messages between Thomas and Cunningham that allegedly showed the two discussing a plan to “set up” Hyatt. The messages indicated that Thomas maintained her friendship with Hyatt while providing Cunningham with information about his location.
On the night of the murder, investigators said Thomas directed Hyatt to park in a particular area and supplied Cunningham with real-time updates as Hyatt arrived.
According to the affidavit, Thomas continued communicating with Cunningham after the sh00ting. Investigators said Cunningham instructed her to delete their conversations.
CUNNINGHAM IDENTIFIED AS THE SH00TER
A witness told detectives that Cunningham exited a dark-colored vehicle, approached Hyatt and fired.
The witness reported hearing approximately three or four sh0ts while running from the scene. Surveillance footage reportedly corroborated significant portions of the witness’s account.
Cellphone-location records placed Cunningham at the apartment complex during the period when the sh00ting occurred, according to investigators.
Cunningham was arrested on August 10, 2018.
HARVEY AND WILSON’S ROLES
The affidavit identifies Harvey as another man who exited the vehicle during the confrontation.
A witness said Harvey approached him aggressively immediately before Cunningham opened fire on Hyatt. Harvey was later convicted as an accessory in connection with the murder.
Investigators identified Wilson as the driver of the burgundy Kia Optima used during the incident. Wilson, who was known as “Brisco,” was indicted on a charge of accessory after the fact to murder.
THREE DEFENDANTS SENTENCED
On August 25, 2023, Cunningham pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 25-year prison sentence.
Thomas also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 15-year prison sentence.
Harvey pleaded guilty to accessory to murder and received a five-year prison sentence.
Wilson’s accessory case was handled separately.
THOMAS’S BELATED APPEAL DENIED
Thomas later sought permission to file a belated appeal.
Her Broward County docket shows that the Fourth District Court of Appeal directed the circuit court to determine whether Thomas had previously asked her attorney to file an appeal.
On September 26, 2024, the appellate court adopted the commissioner’s findings and denied Thomas’s petition.
The docket also shows recommitment and rearrest paperwork filed on July 23, 2024, followed by an order returning Thomas to prison on July 31, 2024.
HARVEY ARRESTED REPEATEDLY WHILE UNDER COURT SUPERVISION
Harvey’s publicly available arrest history shows that he repeatedly returned to custody while the Dean Hyatt prosecution and resulting court supervision remained active.
His listed booking dates include:
- July 31, 2019
- August 30, 2022
- September 6, 2022
- December 21, 2022
- August 18, 2024
- February 11, 2025
- June 4, 2026
Some of those arrests occurred before Harvey’s August 2023 sentencing and may have involved alleged violations of pretrial release or other court-ordered conditions. The later arrests occurred after his accessory conviction and may involve alleged probation violations or another form of post-sentencing supervision.
What do you think? Should someone convicted as an accessory in a murder case be allowed to repeatedly return to the community after arrests or alleged probation violations, or should repeated violations result in the person serving the remainder of the original sentence in custody?
Dean Hyatt was 20 years old when he was klled.
All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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