SANFORD, Fla. – A 15-year-old was arrested Wednesday in the July fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man, who was killed while trying to sell a pair of headphones, according to the Sanford Police Department.
Dra’shawn Williams was already in custody when an arrest warrant was issued in connection with the July 20 fatal shooting of Brandon Leo. The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. near a home on West 3rd Street near Pomegranate Avenue.
According to police, Leo pulled up to the home to sell a pair of headphones and was waiting in his pickup truck in the driveway.
Police said at least two individuals approached the driver’s side of the pickup, and Leo put the vehicle in reverse and started backing out of the driveway. Several gunshots were fired and the pickup crashed into a retention pond, where it was located by Sanford officers who were called to the scene, officials said.
Leo was found dead in the partially submerged pickup, with an apparent gunshot wound, police said.
“A family is grieving the loss of their son over a pair of headphones,” Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement back in July. “Senseless doesn’t begin to describe this tragedy. Our investigators have been working diligently to locate these two individuals who clearly have no regard for the value of a human life.”
The judge ordered Dra’shawn Williams to remain in custody until his arraignment on Sept. 9. News 6 spoke with his mother outside the courtroom.
“I just want (the victim’s) family to know my heart goes out to them, but Dra’shawn Williams is not the shooter,” Tammy Spivey said.
Dauntaye Alderman, who lives in the neighborhood where the shooting happened, told News 6 what he heard that night.
“I was just standing there enjoying myself, then all of a sudden, I hear one shot, then I hear dozens more ring out after that,” Alderman said.
Williams faces a first-degree murder charge. He appeared in court Thursday morning and a judge ordered he remain in custody until his arraignment.
An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS (8477).
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