A 26-year-old Sanford man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of another man who was dating his ex-girlfriend.

On Wednesday, September 18, at around 11:15 p.m., Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 400 block of Sun Lake Circle in unincorporated Lake Mary in reference to a shooting incident. Witnesses reported hearing two men arguing, which was then followed by a gunshot, according to SCSO.

When deputies arrived on scene, they made contact with a woman who was screaming. Moments later, they found a male victim laying near the porch of an apartment who had sustained a gunshot wound.

Paramedics soon arrived on scene and pronounced the victim deceased. He was later identified by law enforcement as 32-year-old Larreon Da’Quan Cosby.  

The victim’s girlfriend told SCSO deputies that her ex-boyfriend, Nathanal Samuel Bratcher II, had called her stating that he was “going to kill Cosby.” She advised that when she was unable to reach Cosby on his phone to warn him, she drove with several individuals to his apartment, where they found him unresponsive and bleeding, according to the sheriff’s office.

The deputies learned that Bratcher was driving a white Ford Mustang convertible, and an SCSO helicopter spotted the vehicle near the intersection of Osceola Drive and El Capitan Drive in Sanford. Local police officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle, and Bratcher was taken into custody without further incident.

Bratcher was placed under arrest and transported to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged  with one count of first-degree premeditated murder.

According to SCSO, the homicide investigation remains “active and ongoing.”

Anyone with information related to this shooting incident is encouraged to contact the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at 407-665-6650. Anonymous tips can also be provided by calling 1-800-423-TIPS(8477).