Key West businessman accused of murdering 21-year-old will be released on bond

Businessman Lloyd Preston Brewer III, accused of murdering former high school football player Garrett Hughes outside a Key West liquor store in 2023, will be getting out of jail.

Monroe County Judge Mark Jones ordered Friday that Brewer, 59, can be released on a $3 million bond. He’ll have to submit to electronic monitoring, complete house arrest and travel restrictions, and is not permitted to have any contact with the victim’s family.

He also must surrender any firearms and his passport.

The state had asked for a $10 million bond.

“The state still maintains this murderer is a danger and a threat to the community and is a flight risk,” Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward said.

Prosecutors allege that Brewer, then 57, shot and killed Hughes just before 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, 2023 after confronting the shirtless and unarmed 21-year-old for urinating behind Conch Town Liquor & Lounge at 3340 N. Roosevelt Blvd.

The bar is a tenant of a multi-storefront building at the Searstown shopping center owned by Brewer and his family.

Brewer, who has spent more than two years behind bars since the shooting, tried to claim self-defense following the shooting, but prosecutors said video evidence contradicted that claim.

In interrogation footage obtained by Local 10 News, Brewer told Key West police detectives: “I stood my ground.”

However, court records show that Jones later denied Brewer’s self-defense claim on Feb. 12.

Monroe County court records show a pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 10.