Teen faces 30 years in 2021 manslaughter

NORTH PORT — A suspect in the 2021 killing of a teenager pleaded no contest earlier this month.

Now an adult, the suspect was 14 at the time of the shooting death.

Navarius Mason, now 18, is set to be sentenced Nov. 19.

Court records indicate Mason pleaded no contest to a charge of manslaughter with a weapon, with a maximum potential sentence of 30 years in prison.

Mason was one of five suspects arrested by the North Port Police Department in 2021 in connection with the death of Micah Dankowitz, 18.

Witnesses told police they saw Dankowitz and a friend involved in an argument with a second group of youth near South Biscayne Drive and Porto Chico Avenue on June 18, 2021.

During that confrontation, Dankowitz allegedly threw rocks at the car the other group was in. In response, the car’s occupants shot at him.

Dankowitz was injured by gunfire and transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He later died as a result of his wounds.

Of the five arrested, only Mason remained in court records with a charge connected to the killing. A planned trial was continued multiple times.

Two additional subjects — Kenneth Seylhouwer, 42, and Kayla Seylhouwer, 19, his daughter — were charged with accessory after the fact in connection with Dankowitz’ death.

Kennth Seylhouwer is alleged to have cleaned the gun used in the shooting with alcohol, which led to an additional charge of tampering with evidence.

According to an arrest report, Kenneth Seylhouwer was interviewed in Sarasota County Jail by investigators while he was incarcerated for a separate case.

Investigators said they were tipped off to speak with Seylhouwer by another occupant of the car, who added that Kayla was with them at the time.

Shortly after that interview, he allegedly phoned Kayla about the case and claimed “All’s I did was took them away from the area.”

The cases against both Seylhouwers is ongoing, with both scheduled for a case management hearing on Sept. 19.