Photos for Headline Surfer / Thallas Jerome Inman Jr, 24, already jailed on a different homicide case awaiting trial, was arrested at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford, Florida, and charged with first-degree premeditated homicide murder of Isaiah Ezrah Diaz, 20, of Sanford, who was shot to death inside his car at the Hatteras Sound apartments in 2022.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
SANFORD, Fla. -- Sanford Police investigators have arrested Thallas Jerome Inman Jr, 24, in connection with the Nov. 20, 2022, homicide of 20-year-old Isaiah Ezrah Diaz, who was gunned down inside his car at the Hatteras Sound apartments.
At his first appearance before Judge Jessica J. Recksiedler at the Criminal Justice Center in Sanford, Inman was ordered held without bond.
Based on the investigation, probable cause was established, indicating that Inman was one of the gunmen involved in the homicide of Isaiah Ezrah Diaz. The investigation continued into the others with Inman when Diaz was gunned down.
On March 24, 2025, Sanford Investigators, after consultation with the State Attorney’s Office, issued a warrant for Inman, for the charge of First Degree Premeditated Homicide Murder.
At the time of the arrest, Inman was in custody at John E. Polk Correctional Facility as a result of an unrelated premeditated first-degree murder case and other charges.
Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith stated regarding the arrest, “While we cannot bring Isaiah back to his family, we do hope that this arrest is a step towards healing for Isaiah’s family. Our Investigators have continued to work on every lead in this case and determined that the perpetrators face justice. They will continue to do so to ensure that all of those involved in taking Isaiah from his loved ones will be held accountable.”
Sanfford Police Chief Cecil Smith (shown here) stated, “While we cannot bring Isaiah back to his family, we do hope that this arrest is a step towards healing for Isaiah’s family. Our Investigators have continued to work on every lead in this case and determined that the perpetrators face justice. They will continue to do so to ensure that all of those involved in taking Isaiah from his loved ones will be held accountable.”
Here is a synopsis of the Diaz homicide that occurred on Nov. 20, 2022, as described by Sanford police in an email media alert to Headline Surfer and other Central Florida news outlets:
Sanford Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a possible shooting with injuries at the Hatteras Sound Apartments at 13000 Island Bay Circle.
Responding officers located a car parked in the parking lot of the complex with obvious damage caused by gunfire. Inside the vehicle, officers located a male, later identified as Isaiah Diaz (DOB 06/04/2004), dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers also located two additional victims. One of the victims was also suffering from gunshot wounds and was transported to a local area hospital.
Responding officers from the Sanford Police located a car parked in the parking lot of the complex with obvious damage caused by gunfire. Inside the vehicle, officers located a male, later identified as Isaiah Diaz (DOB 06/04/2004), dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers also located two additional victims. One of the victims was also suffering from gunshot wounds and was transported to a local area hospital.
Sanford Investigators spoke with multiple witnesses and residents during the initial investigation about the incident.
Based on the preliminary investigation, multiple subjects approached the vehicle with semi-automatic firearms and opened fire on the vehicle and its occupants. At this time, we have received limited information from the uninjured victim. The circumstances surrounding what occurred are still under investigation; however, it appears this is an isolated incident.
A second homicide tied to Inman
Less than two months after Diaz was shot to death, several gunmen fired shots on Jan. 16, 2023, at a van on County Road 46A and Rinehart Road in a botched attempt to kill rapper Jackboy, who had played at a Sanford venue, The Barn, hours earlier, according to Seminole County sheriff's investigators. Jackboy, however, wasn't in the van. Instead, six women were and were injured, including 31-year-old Princess Tolver, who died.
Less than two months after Diaz was shot to death, several gunmen fired shots on Jan. 16, 2023, at a van on County Road 46A and Rinehart Road in a botched attempt to kill rapper Jackboy, who had played at a Sanford venue, The Barn, hours earlier, according to Seminole County sheriff's investigators. Jackboy, however, wasn't in the van. Instead, six women were and were injured, including 31-year-old Princess Tolver, who died.
Sherriff Dennis Lemma said at the time of the arrests, the feud between rappers Jackboy and Kodak Black provoked the drive-by shooting that led to murder charges against Inman.
Multimedia video
YouTube download / Sanford PD video / 11-20-22 Homicide - Hatteras Sound- Suspects
Background on the Diaz homicide
Sanford cops released surveillance video and still images of suspects related to the Nov. 20, 2022, homicide of Isiah Diaz. Based on the investigation, it appears that a number of the suspects possibly attempted the shooting or some other similar act in the days before Nov. 20, 2022.
Those suspects were shown on surveillance openly carrying firearms and moving in the same calculated manner displayed on the day of the homicide. Investigators released a video of six suspects (see above), which was recorded less than a week before the homicide. One of the suspects was openly carrying a firearm and did not have his face concealed.
Crimeline Rewards
This investigation into the Diaz homicide remains ongoing. Investigators ask that anyone with information on this homicide or the location of any remaining suspects please call the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimeline.org. Calls made to Crimeline remain anonymous, and tips to Crimeline that lead to solving homicides are eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000.
About the Headline Surfer Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008, which serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando via