Mother speaks out after man pleads responsible to son’s 2021 homicide in Miami Seashore – NBC 6 South Florida

A mother was relieved after the man accused of murdering her son in Miami Beach in 2021 pleaded guilty to the killing.

In an interview with NBC6 on Wednesday, Lora Wakefield described the last several years as an emotional roller coaster. 

“For four or five years we’ve been waiting on movement,” Wakefield said. “Taking a life is not OK.”

Wakefield sat in a Miami-Dade County courtroom, virtually, and watched the man accused of murdering her son, 21-year-old Dustin Wakefield, plead guilty to second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and child abuse.

“It was a relief that I finally see movement,” Wakefield said.

Tamarius Blair Davis said he was high on mushrooms when he randomly and fatally shot Dustin Wakefield, who was eating dinner with his family at a restaurant on Aug. 24, 2021.

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Dustin Wakefield

According to an arrest report, Davis, now 27, told police he approached the patio area of the La Cerveceria restaurant on Ocean Drive and randomly decided to shoot Wakefield, who was on vacation from Castle Rock, Colorado.

In a short video taken immediately after the shooting, people are heard screaming. A witness said he appeared to be celebrating, dancing over the victim’s body.

Michael Wakefield, the victim’s uncle, said in a Facebook post that Dustin Wakefield died protecting his 1-year-old son.

Lora Wakefield described her son as a protector who leaned heavily on his faith.

“If I were to say Jesus was on this Earth, he represented Jesus very well,” Wakefield said. “Still, as a mom, it’s hard, I miss his presence and his hugs.”

She said she’s already forgiven Davis, and that’s helped her get through the last several years.

“I pray to God that this man is remorseful for his soul sake, I forgive him for his soul sake because he did a horrible thing, and there’s no justifying that,” Wakefield said.

She hopes that change and something positive come from her family’s pain. 

“I ask that for the world to still be a light and love to the person in front of me and to remember him that way,” Wakefield said. “The world lost a beautiful light.”

A judge will decide Davis’ fate at a future sentencing hearing.