A Florida football coach was critically wounded when he used his own body to shield four children who were in his SUV from a drive-by shooting that killed a 13-year-old boy, his lawyer said.
Jacksonville attorney John Philips, who is representing the unnamed wounded coach, said his client was driving the boys home from football tryouts Saturday when a vehicle pulled up to the intersection of Moncrief Road West and New Kings Road in Jacksonville, and someone inside opened fire.
According to Phillips, the 21-year-old coach dove to provide cover for the boys and was shot 10 times, suffering serious injuries requiring multiple surgeries, reported Action News Jax.
One of the children, 13-year-old Prince Holland, was killed, and an 11-year-old boy was injured in the shooting but was expected to recover.
The two other boys in the coach’s SUV, ages 14 and 15, were unharmed. So far, no arrests have been made in connection with the deadly incident, but Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters on Monday vowed to pursue the case until the person or people who fired the shots are held to account.
“This grief has emboldened us and hardened our resolve,” Waters during a press conference on the steps of the Police Memorial Building. “To those responsible for this terrible act, know this: We will not rest, we will not tire, we will not waver.”
A reward totaling $14,000 is now being offered for information leading to an arrest. Holland was the youngest of eight children and was remembered by his family as a “good kid” who was on the honor roll at school.
“He went to church every Sunday. He played sports. He took the other kids to play sports so they wouldn’t be out here doing drugs, smoking and being in gangs,” his mother, Chantel Brown, told the station News4Jax.
Holland’s dream was to play for the Kansas City Chiefs as a wide receiver when he grew up, according to Brown.
Police said the 21-year-old coach, who was driving, tried to shield the players as bullets rang out.
Police are still looking for the person responsible for the drive-by shooting. The coach, who is awake and alert in the hospital, told police he doesn’t know who shot him.
Investigators are working with the surviving teens to try to piece the puzzle together. They are also looking at evidence from the scene, such as shell casings and surveillance video.
Nancy Meiga, who works at a nearby restaurant, said she recently saw Prince, who was a frequent customer at her restaurant.
“I’m destroyed right now about it,” Meiga said.
If you have any information about the shooting, you’re asked to contact JSO at 904-630-0500 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
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