Two Young Men, Childhood Friends, Found Fatally Shot in Florida; Police Seek Suspect

Police in DeLand, Florida are investigating the fatal shooting of two young men discovered in a vacant lot Wednesday evening around 10:40 p.m. Dustin Rose, 19, and Samson Campbell, 18, were found dead at the scene, marking the second victim discovered in the area following another fatal shooting. Authorities have not yet released details regarding a potential motive or publicly named any suspects in connection with the deaths.

Rose, a student at The Citadel Military College of South Carolina and recent enlistee in the South Carolina Army National Guard, was home on academic break at the time of his death. Campbell, a DeLand native who had been living in the Chicago area with his aunt, was visiting the region to assist with spreading the ashes of his family’s dog, which had recently died. The two had maintained their friendship since childhood, according to law enforcement accounts.

Surveillance footage released by police depicts the pair walking together Tuesday evening, though investigators have not determined whether they were specifically targeted in the attack. Family members reportedly discovered the bodies after the young men failed to respond to phone calls, according to authorities.

Relatives of the victims expressed anguish over the killings. Rose’s aunt, Jaimie Scarola, stated to FOX 35 that her nephew had aspired to serve his country as a soldier and was denied that opportunity. Campbell’s aunt, Karen Chobin, characterized the timing of the deaths as particularly devastating given her nephew’s visit to mourn his pet.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant Saturday night at a DeLand residence with assistance from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Anyone with information about the shootings is urged to contact the DeLand Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 386-626-7400 or use the Crime Watch tip line.