17 Year Old Arrested in DeLand Double Homicide as Prosecutors Signal Adult Charges
U.S. Marshals Capture Teen Suspect in Manatee County Following Killings of Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell
DELAND, Fla. — A 17 year old accused of fatally shooting two young men in downtown DeLand has been captured on Florida’s Gulf Coast following a multi-agency fugitive investigation, authorities announced Wednesday. Kayon Randelle, 17, of DeLand, was taken into custody without incident on August 5 by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at a hotel in Manatee County, according to authorities. He faces two counts of second degree murder in connection with the deaths of Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell. Randelle remained in custody in Manatee County following his arrest and was awaiting transfer to Volusia County, where the murder case will proceed.
Suspect Tracked Across Florida After Arrest Warrant Issued
An arrest warrant for Randelle was issued Sunday, August 2, as investigators intensified their search for a suspect in the double homicide. Police determined that Randelle had left the DeLand area, prompting assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Investigators ultimately tracked him across the state to Florida’s west coast, where he was located in Manatee County.
The arrest marks the most significant development yet in an investigation that began after Rose and Campbell were found shot to death behind a downtown DeLand property. Authorities said Randelle and the two victims knew one another before the killings. Investigators believe the three agreed to meet on the evening of July 28 behind 213 West New York Avenue, where multiple gunshots were fired in a concealed lot behind the property.
Rose and Campbell were both killed. Police revealed Wednesday that despite multiple rounds being fired, the department did not receive an immediate 911 call reporting gunshots in the area that night.
Police Believe Randelle Was the Sole Shooter
Investigators currently believe Randelle was the only person who fired the shots that killed Rose and Campbell. However, police made clear that his arrest does not necessarily mark the end of the criminal investigation. Detectives are investigating whether anyone else helped plan or facilitate the encounter, concealed or destroyed evidence following the killings, helped Randelle flee DeLand or knowingly provided assistance while he was wanted by authorities.
Anyone found to have knowingly assisted the suspect could potentially face separate criminal charges depending on the evidence developed by investigators. Police have not publicly identified any additional suspects or announced further arrests.
Prosecutors Expected to Pursue Case Against Teen as an Adult
Although Randelle is 17, prosecutors indicated that the seriousness of the allegations makes adult prosecution likely. The State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit said cases involving allegations of this magnitude are typically prosecuted in adult court and referenced its “Young Guns Initiative,” an effort targeting serious violent crimes involving firearms and younger offenders.
Randelle currently faces two counts of second degree murder, although charging decisions can evolve as prosecutors review evidence gathered by investigators. Police also said Randelle has a previous criminal history involving aggravated battery, assault and firearm related offenses. Those previous encounters with the criminal justice system could become relevant as prosecutors evaluate how aggressively to pursue the current case, although the new murder charges will ultimately have to stand on the evidence surrounding the deaths of Rose and Campbell.
Two Young Men Killed During Planned Meeting
Investigators say Rose, Campbell and Randelle knew one another and had arranged to meet on the evening of July 28. The meeting took place behind 213 West New York Avenue in downtown DeLand, in an area police described as concealed from the surrounding street. At some point during the encounter, investigators say multiple rounds were fired.
Rose and Campbell were killed, while the person police now identify as the shooter left the scene. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a definitive motive for the killings or explained what they believe happened immediately before the gunfire erupted. That unanswered question is likely to become one of the central issues as the criminal case moves forward.
Investigation Expands to Anyone Who May Have Helped Suspect
Police are now turning increased attention toward what happened after the shootings. Investigators want to determine how Randelle allegedly left DeLand, where he stayed while authorities were searching for him and whether anyone knowingly helped him avoid capture. Authorities are also examining whether anyone attempted to conceal evidence or otherwise interfere with the homicide investigation.
Police emphasized that while they believe Randelle acted as the sole shooter, that does not necessarily mean he acted entirely alone before or after the killings. The possibility of additional arrests remains open.
Major Break in DeLand Double Murder Investigation
The arrest brings an end to the immediate search for the person police believe killed Rose and Campbell, but significant pieces of the case remain unresolved. Investigators must still establish a motive, reconstruct the events leading up to the shooting and determine whether anyone assisted Randelle before or after the killings.
Prosecutors will also have to decide whether the current second-degree murder charges remain the final charges as additional evidence is reviewed. Randelle is accused of the crimes and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. For the families of Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell, however, Wednesday’s arrest represents the first major step toward accountability following a double homicide that left two young men dead in the heart of DeLand.
With Randelle now in custody and expected to be returned to Volusia County, the investigation is entering a new phase, one focused not on finding the alleged shooter, but on determining exactly why two young men were killed and whether anyone else helped make the crime, or the suspect’s attempted escape, possible.
