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Janard Dominic Childs is wanted on charges of second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with or destroying physical evidence in the death of 38-year-old Deandre “Dre” Montgomery Sr.
Lakeland Police have issued an arrest warrant for the 34-year-old Lakeland man in Sunday’s fatal shooting outside Jade Fox Lounge — a case that has stunned friends who say the suspect and victim grew up together.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Childs had not been taken into custody.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Lakeland Police Department at 863-834-6900.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 if their information leads to an arrest. There are four ways to submit a tip:
- Call 1-888-400 TIPS (8477)
- Dial **TIPS from a cell phone
- Visit the Heartland Crime Stoppers website and click “Submit A Tip.”
- Download the free “P3tips” mobile app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
The shooting happened shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, outside the Jade Fox Lounge at 3010 Lakeland Highlands Road. Officers who were patrolling the north end of the parking lot heard multiple gunshots and ran toward the sound, according to a police news release.
They found a silver Dodge pickup parked in front of the business with the driver’s door open. Montgomery was lying on the ground near the door with multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers began life-saving measures before Montgomery was transported to Lakeland Regional Health, where he later died.
Fight escalated, police say
Detectives say Childs approached Montgomery’s vehicle and initiated a verbal altercation that escalated into a physical fight.
During that confrontation, Childs allegedly pulled a handgun and shot Montgomery multiple times before fleeing in a white Lincoln SUV that was waiting nearby.
Police have not said what sparked the dispute.
Friends told LkldNow the two men had known each other since their teens. They appear together in numerous photos posted over the years on social media. Several people said the men had recently stopped speaking.
Between 11:19 p.m. and 11:55 p.m., shortly before the shooting, Childs reposted more than two dozen violent news stories to a Facebook account under the name “Houdini Childs.” The posts, shared late Saturday, focused largely on shootings in the southeast Houston area.
Police have not publicly commented on whether the posts are part of their investigation.
Drug conviction and gang ties
Childs was arrested in September 2022 on charges including possession of fentanyl with intent to sell, maintaining a structure for keeping controlled substances, and resisting an officer without violence.
The probable cause affidavit says the arrest resulted from a tip about activity involving two local gangs.
Childs was ultimately sentenced to 16 months in prison, based partly on prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance and robbery with a weapon. However, by the time the case was resolved, he had already served nearly 17 months in jail and was released with credit for time served.
On social media, Childs credited Montgomery with accepting his calls twice a day while he was in the South County jail. He called Montgomery “one human being I know for sure that had my back through the worst of times.”
In August 2025, Childs was arrested again on charges of driving without a license and resisting an officer without violence. He was transferred to Osceola County, according to court records.
Community still reeling
Montgomery’s death marks the second fatal shooting outside the Jade Fox Lounge in recent years. Friends have described Montgomery as a devoted father and a loyal friend whose loss has rippled through a tight-knit community.
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