A star high school football player was less than two weeks away from leaving home to attend college on an athletic scholarship when he was fatally shot on Wednesday, during a transaction from a Craigslist ad in North Miami Beach, Florida.
The New York Post reports that Brian Brown, 19, met the suspect at North Miami Beach on Wednesday afternoon at around 3:04 p.m., when he was fatally shot in the back. Authorities said that some sort of altercation erupted during the transaction and an unidentified black male shot Brown, then fled the scene. As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made.
Brown was taken to the hospital, where he died the following day. Detectives are searching for clues and seeking information from residents around Northeast 177th Street and Ninth Avenue, who may have seen the suspect.
SEEKING INFORMATION: On 6/14/17, Brian W. Brown was killed in the area of NE 177 Street and NE 9 Ave. Contact @MDCrimeStoppers w/ any info. pic.twitter.com/0S80MVV56k
— Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) June 16, 2017
The victim was the youngest of four children and was scheduled to play football at play football at Merced College in California. According to his father, Craig Brown, Brian had been working out and shopping for dorm room supplies prior to the shooting. He planned to leave for his new school on July 1.
“He was getting ready for it, staying in shape, and everyone, his teammates, friends, everyone was talking about it,” Craig Brown said. “He was ready to go.
Craig Brown also said his son was well-liked, always smiling, and had numerous friends who were devastated when they heard he’d been killed.
“Happy, always smiling, a friend to everyone……Everyone who knew him, I can say at least 200 to 300 people have come here to hug me and told me what a great kid he was, and how much love he just had for everyone. [He] wouldn’t hurt a fly, wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
Anyone with any information is urged to call Detective P. Camacho at 305-471-2400. You can also contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Authorities are offering up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
[Feature Photo: Family Handout]
