Marcus Chamblin, the convicted killer in an October 2019 murder at a Circle K station in Palm Coast, has been sentenced to life in prison for his crimes by Judge Terence Perkins. Chamblin was convicted for first degree murder in the killing of 26-year-old Deon Jenkins, plus attempted second degree murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
The shooting occurred on October 12th, 2019, when Jenkins and a friend were parked in their car at the Circle K off of Palm Coast Parkway. At around 3:34 am, Chamblin was said to have emerged from behind the gas station with a high-powered rifle and fired 16 shots into the car. Jenkins was fatally wounded, and his friend was injured but survived.
The jury deliberated for 48 minutes after closing arguments wrapped up on Monday, before a guilty verdict was returned. Chamblin was immediately sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, plus 30 years for his second-degree attempted murder conviction and 15 years for shooting into an occupied vehicle.
“This case illustrates how cheap human life has become to folks who live by violence,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said. Two of his Assistant State Attorneys, Jason Lewis and Mark Johnson, led the case for the state. “The defendant sprayed the vehicle with bullets from a long gun in the parking lot of a busy gas station/food mart. It was a miracle that more people weren’t injured or killed. Holding the defendant accountable may provide the families some peace, but the grief they suffer will remain.”
Chamblin was arrested for the murder in January 2021, and has been held ever since at the county jail. It was his third booking, following charges for illegal concealed carry of a firearm and possession of an altered firearm in 2014, and then failure to appear for a traffic summons later that year. In June 2022 he was charged with battery on another inmate. The state did not seek the death penalty for Chamblin, saving him from potentially becoming the second inmate ever sentenced to death for crimes in Flagler County.
“I’m thankful the jury connected all the evidence, so justice was served for the victim and his family. Now this killer will have the rest of his life behind bars to regret his decision to take the life of another young man,” added Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. “In 2021, after a 15-month-long investigation, we got him and his accomplice off the streets. Thanks to the amazing team of investigators who pursued this murderer across the nation, and to the thorough prosecutors with the 7th Judicial Court, he will never get the chance to take another life again.”
Chamblin’s alleged accomplice, 29-year-old Derrius Bauer, is set to stand trial in September for his reported role in the murder. He’s been accused of driving Chamblin to the Circle K in order to carry out the shooting. He was arrested days before Chamblin in January 2021.
Throw away the key