Man killed ‘key witness,’ cops say
A Boca Raton man convicted of aggravated battery killed a “key witness” in that case just three weeks after he was released from jail, Boca Raton Police said Friday.
On May 5, Tashane Chantiloupe, 27, confrontedAugustusByam, 34, inHughes Park on the east side of the city.
“I’m going to kill you,” Chantiloupe told Byam, who laughed at him, according to a witness account described in court documents.
The next night, Byam, who was living out of his pickup at the time, was parked in the 100 block of Northeast 12th Street near Glades Road and U.S. 1, when he was shot twice in his head and died.
Witnesses heard the “Pop, pop” of gunfire and described a man in black clothing running from the area, police said.
Chantiloupe was homeless and kept his belongings at a friend’s house in the 200 block of Northeast 15th Street. He stored a Taurus revolver and ammunition beneath the rafters of the home, and kept them tucked in place with insulation, police said.
Detectives said at least three forms of evidence linked Chantiloupe to the killing: a fingerprint on a box of ammunition; DNA from the Taurus’ grip and ballistics from a bullet fired by the handgun that was retrieved from Byam’s brain, according to a probable cause affidavit.
On Thursday night, police arrested Chantiloupe on suspicion of committing murder and for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
A public defender had not yet been assigned for Chantiloupe’s case.
A friend of Byam said Friday she is still mourning and that she is in touch with his loved ones.
“Guswas really a beautiful person who really overcame a lot in his life,” said Anne Cann, former executive director of Love Boca Outreach Ministries. “All hewanted to dowas better himself.”
Five months ago, Byam started a landscaping company with the help of the Ministries, she said.
“He also volunteered for our organization by keeping the laundry area clean and he helped distribute clothes to the homeless and served meals,” Cann said. “In our community, he was beloved. He gave back more than hewas given by us.”
She said she was relieved to hear an arrest had been made in the case.
“I’m glad justice is being served,” Cann said. “Gus deserved to live his life to completion without it being cut short.”