Man accused of killing witness in attempted murder investigation

DNA analysis links suspect to murder weapon, detectives say

BOCA RATON, Fla. – A South Florida man was arrested Friday morning in the killing of a man who was a witness in an attempted murder investigation, authorities said.

Boca Raton police said the victim, Augustus Byam, was found dead inside his pickup truck on May 6. 

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Byam had been shot multiple times, authorities said.

According to detectives, two witnesses said they woke up that day at about 6:30 a.m. when they heard multiple bangs. 

They said they saw a black male running away from the scene.

Another witness told detectives that the suspect, Tashane Chantiloupe, 27, confronted Byam at Hughes Park the previous day and told him that he was going to kill him.

At the time of the shooting, Byam was a key witness in an attempted murder investigation involving Chantiloupe, police said.

Authorities said a witness saw the suspect wrap something up and put it inside the roof rafters of his home on Northeast 15th Terrace after the shooting.

Detectives obtained a search warrant and said they found a gun and ammunition in the rafters.

Fingerprints on the box of ammunition came back to Chantiloupe, and ballistics tests showed that the gun was used to kill Byam, detectives said.

Authorities said DNA analysis also linked Chantiloupe to the gun.

Chantiloupe faces charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.