BELLE GLADE, Fla. — When he was killed at 18 in Miami Beach, Dan’Vonte Nicolas Tarver’s family remembered his work for the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida in Belle Glade. He had already had a son named after him.
Three years later, Tarver’s murder during a shooting on March 19, 2023, in South Beach, resurfaced in a 92-page affidavit about a gang in western Palm Beach County’s Belle Glade, an agricultural town.
On June 29, 2024, Danny Tarver shared “Paint the City Red,” a rap song about grief on YouTube that included a picture of a vigil in honor of Dan’Vonte Tarver, according to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office deputy’s affidavit.
“The majority of the subjects in the pictures are wearing black and red clothing, along with masks and face coverings,” a PBSO deputy wrote, according to the affidavit. “Several of the subjects are displaying the Nawf Way gang’s hand sign.”
During a news conference on Thursday, PBSO Capt. Michael Ott said the Four Way crew had started in 2020 in the area of Northwest 11th Street, and in a few years, it had grown into the Nawf Way gang.
The PBSO deputies’ affidavit also included the murder of 15-year-old Xavier Hatcher during a shooting on Oct. 21, 2023, near Glade View Elementary School in Belle Glade. The South Beach murder was solved, a felon was arrested, and he was awaiting trial without bond. Xavier’s murder remained unsolved.
The affidavit mentioned the gang’s rivalry in the Belle Glade area included the Skutta Green Team, Only the Zoe’s, Family Over Bulls--t, and the 1700.
“There are other gangs in our western community, but this one was significant,” Ott said about the aim to arrest Nawf Way gang’s members.
During the news conference, Ott stood near a poster that included a picture of Danny Tarver, now 21, whose Instagram post taunting rivals and a “Bad Mood” rap song on YouTube also made it as evidence in the affidavit.
The poster also included 16 other pictures of Black men between the ages of 18 and 26, and listed two boys, ages 16 and 17. Sheriff Rick Bradshaw identified all 19 suspects arrested as “bad guys.”
Ott said deputies also arrested a 20th suspect, but he wasn’t included in the poster, because it was after PBSO staff had printed it for the news conference.
Ott, of the PBSO’s violent crimes division, said the gang was linked to drug trafficking, over 100 firearms, more than 60 shootings, homicides, burglaries, and robberies.
“They think they own the streets, they don’t own the streets,” Bradshaw said. “The community owns the streets.”
Several PBSO units worked with the FBI and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, as they arrested gang members, also known in local streets as “The Sharks,” according to Ott.
“This has been a one-year enforcement initiative aimed at dismantling this gang’s enterprise,” Ott said about PBSO’s “Operation Shark Bait.”
Ott said law enforcement teams had executed 13 search warrants, including 10 on May 21 in Lake Park, Riviera Beach, and LaBelle.
“We recovered seven additional firearms,” Ott said, and he added, deputies also seized “approximately $10,000 in currency, large amounts of trafficking weight narcotics, to include fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana.”
Ott estimated the Nawf Way gang has about 50 members. Bradshaw said he had a message for the “bad guys” who haven’t been arrested.
“It’s not a matter of if, we’re going to get you! It’s a matter of when because we have a room reserved for you right back here at my hotel,” Bradshaw said.
The poster listed Danny Tarver, also known as “DT,” and 12 other suspects who faced charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
According to inmate records, Tarver was booked on May 21, and he remained at the county’s Main Detention Center on Friday night. His bond was $2 million.
The list of 12 other RICO cases
Donnell Johnson, known as “Doo Doo Bug,” is 18.
Khanye Bullard, known as “K7,″ is 18.
Derrick Salter, known as D3,″ is 18.
Marterrius Jean, known as “Fat,” is 19.
Larryun Johnson, known as “Bay Bay,” is 21.
Devonta Ward, known as “YGD,” is 22.
Tavaris James, also known as “TJ,” is 22.
Trevanta Holton, known as “TJ,” is 23. Corrections booked him on May 21 at the Main Detention Center, and a judge set his bond at $2 million for the RICO charges and $5,000 for a charge of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Eddie Holland, known as “Reyo,” is 24. Corrections booked him on May 22 at the Main Detention Center, and a judge set his bond at $2 million.
Daequan Kennedy, known as “Tony Hawk,” is 24.
Devonte McKay, known as “YG,” is 25.
Anthony Bradley, known as “YB,” is 26.
The list of related cases
An unidentified 16-year-old boy faced a charge of possession of ammunition by a delinquent.
An unidentified 17-year-old boy faced a charge of possession of a firearm by a gang-related delinquent.
Jadarrious Tyler, known as “Baby J,” is 18. He was arrested on May 21 and faced charges of drug trafficking and marijuana possession.
Rashad Miller, known as “Bear,” is 18. He was arrested on May 21 and faced a charge of unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon.
Joehanson Singleton, known as “PJ,” is 18. He faced a charge of possession of a firearm by a gang-related delinquent.
Kenneth Sistrunk, known as “Kenny,” is 24. He was arrested on May 21 and faced a charge of possession of a firearm by a gang-related felon.
PBSO did not release the identity of the 20th suspect arrested after the poster was printed.
Watch the news conference
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