A Florida father, Jermaine L. Bass, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for shooting his two young children, killing his five-year-old daughter, Jaylah Bass. A judge from the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Samantha L. Ward, handed down the sentence on Monday, March 3, after Bass was found guilty of first-degree murder. He also received an additional 25 years for injuring his eight-year-old son, who survived a gunshot wound to the head.
The tragic incident occurred on August 29, 2022, at the family’s home on Heritage Club Drive in Tampa. That night, Jaylah’s mother, Shirley Bass, had just returned home from work and kissed her children goodnight as they slept in their bunk beds. She then went to the bathroom, where she suddenly heard multiple gunshots inside the house.
Panicked, Shirley ran outside and found a neighbor who had also heard the gunfire and called 911. When she returned to the house, she saw her husband holding their injured son. The boy was cold to the touch, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head. Deputies later revealed that the bullet was still lodged inside, with visible brain matter exposed.
Authorities described Shirley as “hysterical” upon discovering what had happened. Inside the house, officers found Bass sitting on the couch, holding his injured son. He claimed his gun had accidentally fired while he was removing the magazine. However, investigators determined that the shots were “precise and deliberate.”
Tragically, officers found Jaylah upstairs in her bunk bed with a gunshot wound centered in the middle of her forehead. She had been shot three times. A spent bullet casing was discovered in her bedding, and an empty Glock 42 .380 caliber gun was found on a dresser in Bass’ bedroom.
During his court statement, Bass insisted that he was a “good person” who always took care of his family. However, his wife, Shirley, delivered a powerful statement in court, questioning how he could harm their children when he was supposed to protect them.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez condemned Bass, stating that he was meant to love and safeguard his kids but instead committed a horrific act of violence. She expressed hope that the verdict would bring some comfort to those who loved Jaylah and her brother.
While justice has been served, the devastating loss of a young girl and the trauma inflicted on her brother remain a heartbreaking tragedy.
