Four arrested in shooting of Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard
Four individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the shooting incident involving Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard, who is currently in critical but stable condition at a hospital in Florida.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement made the announcement of the arrests of Carson Miller, 18; Germany Atkins, 23; Jayden Bodison, 22; and a 16-year-old juvenile in relation to the shooting that occurred on August 31.
Miller, Bodison, and the juvenile were charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Atkins, on the other hand, was charged with one count of probation violation.
Law enforcement officials executed search warrants in the towns of Havana and Woodville to apprehend the adult suspects, while the juvenile turned himself in at the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.
During a press conference held on Wednesday, Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young revealed that Pritchard was an innocent victim in the shooting incident. Pritchard was shot in the back of the head while dropping off a family member and a child, according to reports.
Sheriff Young stated that Pritchard was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and emphasized that the shooting was believed to be a case of mistaken identity. The suspects were also linked to a previous shooting incident involving Marcus Harris on August 25 at the same location where Pritchard was shot.
According to Sheriff Young, the suspects allegedly targeted the vehicle Pritchard was driving due to its similarity to the vehicle involved in the previous shooting, although Pritchard had no involvement in either incident.
Pritchard, a freshman player for Florida State, has missed the first two games of the season as he continues to recover from the gunshot wound. His father, Earl, attended a recent game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium, showing support for his son and the team.
Head coach Mike Norvell expressed his admiration for Pritchard’s love for football and expressed faith in God’s protection over Pritchard and the team during this challenging time.
The incident has shocked the Florida State community and serves as a reminder of the senseless violence that can impact innocent individuals. The team continues to rally around Pritchard as he focuses on his recovery and rehabilitation.
