Posted on 07/19/2020 12:34:47 AM PDT by LibWhacker
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) –Three young men were “massacred” during a fishing trip in Frostproof Friday night in what Sheriff Grady Judd called one of the worst murder scenes he’s ever witnessed.
Judd said Frostproof residents Brandon Rollins, 27, Keven Springfield, 30, and Damion Tillman, 23, were to meet at Lake Streety off US Hwy 27 Friday evening for some ‘night fishing.’
“It’s about as far out in the middle of the woods as you can get,” Judd said. “It’s a peaceful area. There’s a beautiful lake where three very close friends were going fishing last night.”
Judd said Damion arrived first to the lake in his truck. As soon as he did, investigators believe he was murdered by one or more individuals.
They were in the process of murdering Tillman when Judd said Rollins and Springfield arrived in another vehicle. Detectives believe they were immediately “shot up.”
“Here’s what the murderers didn’t count on,” Judd said. “One of our victims, Brandon Rollins, was able to call his father and say, ‘help.'”
The sheriff said Rollins’ father heard the call, got up, got dressed and drove to the lake. When he arrived, he witnessed what had happened.
They were in the process of murdering Tillman when Judd said Rollins and Springfield arrived in another vehicle. Detectives believe they were immediately “shot up.”
“Here’s what the murderers didn’t count on,” Judd said. “One of our victims, Brandon Rollins, was able to call his father and say, ‘help.'”
The sheriff said Rollins’ father heard the call, got up, got dressed and drove to the lake. When he arrived, he witnessed what had happened.
Judd said the father was able to have final words with his son, Brandon, before he passed. The information Rollins gave to his father about the suspects remains confidential, the sheriff’s office said.
“These folks appear to be beaten and shot,” Judd said. “Do you hear me? Beaten and shot.”
Judd could not say whether the murders were random, or targeted.
“One or more murderers that killed three people in a little country community,” he continued. “A very safe, very quiet community. Murdered them while they were on their way to go catfishing last night.”
Judd said there is a $5,000 reward for anyone who has information that leads to the arrest of the murderers in the case.
“I’ve been to a lot of murder scenes in my life, and this ranks among the worst I’ve been to,” Judd said.
News Channel 8’s Justin Schecker was able to talk to the family and girlfriend of Rollins.
“I was just so upset last night, I just didn’t know what to do,” Cyril Rollins said.
Brandon Rollins’ mom and girlfriend Picture of Brandon Rollins courtesy of his family Brandon Rollins’ mom and girlfriend Picture of Brandon Rollins courtesy of his family
Picture of Brandon Rollins courtesy of his family He described for 8 On Your Side the final fateful call from his son.
“We heard some background and they fussing all that,” he said. “But I left, I went on out here. When I got there I was looking for my son. It was a mess. I found my son. I was holding him he was telling me what happened but i was too shocked to know what was going on.”
Rollins’ girlfriend Jessica Steenson said at the scene of the murders, Sheriff Judd shook her hand and made a promise.
“That he will not stop until justice is served for them three boys, my boyfriend, and his two best friends,” she said. “I moved here from Jacksonville, Florida, for him two years ago and this is not how it was supposed to be and I want justice for him. And I will not stop until he gets it.”
Justice is all Rollin’s heartbroken mother Dottie Payton wants, too.
“I want it to be served the right way and I’m sure they’re out there watching and seeing what’s going on and they need to come forward,” she said.
I suspect these unfortunate young men drove up on some activity they were not supposed to see, such as recovering ‘high value’ cargo dropped by an aircraft.
No further info at tge PCSO page.
Cartel lives matter. /s
Assuming the fishing story is true, the men probably had the misfortune of stumbling onto a group of drug smugglers
It wouldn’t shock me if a member or two of the Sheriff’s department were insiders to this cartel business. It’d be wise to let the state do the investigating.
Cue “Dueling Banjos”
Too sloppy for a cartel and it was at a lake so probably not smuggling. My guess is “black people”.
Jerk.
Agree. Cartel would of just killed them and moved on. Assuming they weren’t in on something.
Not cartel directly, but the low-level guys on our side of the border might have been hot-headed enough, or desperate enough, to do what they did if they are the perpetrators. They could have beaten them as a warning and then killed them by gunshot. It’s a possibility. Things get messed up all the time.
It’s less likely that there would be a handful of random jerks out in the same middle of nowhere spot, looking to pick a fight. They stumbled upon something, but the question is what. There are a number of details I’m sure weren’t shared.
What is your guess based on? Is there a high population of blacks in the area? Has black lives matter been active on this area? They are staking out the catfish fisherman now?
My guess is that black people is your first answer for pretty much any crime
And in many an urban areas you would be right.
This time you just sound ridiculous
Revenge killngs by Somalians? How many live in Polk County? This is how they do it in Mogadishu.
Somalis in Miami have been complaining since 2018 about "abuse" at the hands of ICE in Florida. See article at:
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/92-detained-somalis-say-florida-ice-guards-abusing-them-10068786
Yup
Mah head, I say, mah head hurts after reading this article
Uh oh, the oracle from New Yawk City has spoken.
So how're your two buddies, Cuomo and DiBlasio, doing?
But why would you?
My interpretation is that something criminal was planned, involving two groups of men, and one group murdered the other group.
Those days are long gone partner trust me
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