DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – An 18-year-old man was found dead outside Campbell Middle School with a gunshot wound to his head, according to officials.
Daytona Beach officers arrived at Campbell Middle School Saturday and noticed a vehicle had driven through the rear fence of the school. The car hit the building, according to officers.
“The structure is intact with minimum damage,” officers said.
Eric Gordon, 18, of Daytona Beach, was found slumped over in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, bleeding profusely, and suffering from a gunshot wound to the left side of his head, officers said.
“Gordon was treated on scene and transported to Halifax Hospital by emergency personnel. Gordon was in critical condition and unresponsive. Gordon was pronounced dead several hours later. ” Daytona Beach officials told News 6.
“Some cold-blooded killer left him for dead in a car and fled and we’re going to find him and do what we can to get closure, I promise you that,” said Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri. “Very good kid. Never been in trouble. Had a promising future and his life was cut short.”
Witnesses in the area told officers they heard gunshots. The driver’s door of the vehicle was shot multiple times from the outside, officials said.
Authorities said they're searching for nearby video surveillance and talking to witnesses. Police say one man, possibly two men, were seen running from the victim's car after shots were fired. Detectives told News 6 it appears the shots came from outside the car.
School leaders say the crash was into the custodian building on campus, so school leaders say no classroom operations are affected.
Gordon's mother told News 6 her son loved playing basketball and he had no enemies.
“My baby was taken away from me too early, way too early,” said Vicki Gordon. “Eric’s a very loving and caring kid. He cared for me, me and my mom. It’s just he didn’t deserve it.”
She told News 6 what her last conversation was like with him before he was killed.
“He just told me he loved me when I laid down for bed. He went out after I left, after I went to bed,” said Gordon.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Daytona Beach Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division by calling detective Dave Dinardi at (386) 671-5200. They’re offering a $10,000 cash reward to anyone who can help them make an arrest.