TAMPA, Fla. (Court TV) — Jermaine Lavanda Bass Jr. was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found him guilty of shooting his two children, killing one of them.
Jermaine Bass appears in court ahead of his trial Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (Court TV)
Bass, 32, was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse for the shooting that killed his daughter, 5-year-old Jaylah Bass, and injured his 8-year-old son.
The judge sentenced Bass to life in prison without parole for his daughter’s murder and a minimum of 25 years for shooting his son.
Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said that after arriving at the Bass’ home, they found Jermaine Jr. holding his son, bleeding, in his lap. When deputies went upstairs, they found Jaylah lying on top of a bunk bed. Court documents reveal that Jaylah was shot multiple times in the head, while her brother had a gunshot wound to the left side of his head and a wound to his right pinky finger.
At the scene, Jermaine told officers that the gun “went off” as he was “trying to take the magazine out.” When detectives interviewed the children’s mother and Jermaine’s wife, Shirley, she said that she had been in the bathroom when she heard three gunshots before running out of the house for help.
Initially, prosecutors said they intended to seek the death penalty but changed course and withdrew their petition for the death penalty one month before trial.
DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS
DAY 5 – 3/3/25
- Several family members delivered victim impact statements, including the victims’ uncle and mother.
- Jermaine Bass addressed the Court, referring to the shooting as an “accident” and said he was a good father.
- The judge sentenced Jermaine to life in prison without parole for his daughter’s murder and a minimum of 25 years to be served concurrently for shooting his son.
DAY 4 – 2/27/25
- The jury deliberated for several hours before reaching a verdict.
DAY 3 – 2/26/25
- Prosecution delivers closing argument.
- Defense delivers closing argument.
- Prosecution delivers rebuttal closing argument.
DAY 2 – 2/25/25
- Jurors heard testimony from the victims’ aunt and cousin who testified about being at the birthday dinner attended by Shirley Bass on the evening her children were shot.
- WATCH: Bedtime Murder Trial: Day 2 Recap
DAY 1 – 2/24/25
- The prosecution and defense delivered opening statements.
- Rebecca Macleman, 911 records custodian for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, testified to Shirley Bass’ 911 call.
- A neighbor who called 911 testified that he heard 4-5 shots from his room and a woman came out 5-10 minutes after he heard the shots.
- Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies described responding to the scene the night of the shooting.
- Deputy Scott Rammey said when he arrived, Jermaine Bass was holding his son in his arms and told officers that the wound was the result of an accidental discharge, but he didn’t mention his daughter in the other room.
- The jury saw bodycam footage of Rammey responding to the scene.
- Deputy Adam Rahman described seeing Shirley outside the home screaming “at the top of her lungs.”
- Deputy Jason White described finding Jaylah Bass on her bunk bed with “a bullet in the middle of her forehead.”
- Crime scene investigators testified as photos were shown to the jury showing the childrens’ room with a dollhouse, baby doll stroller and a gun holder in the stroller.
- Other photos showed blood in the child’s bed, an Adidas bag containing ammunition and damage from bullet holes in the home.
- WATCH: Bedtime Murder Trial: Day 1 Recap
