Keymarion Hall, a 16-year-old student from Flagler Palm Coast High School, tragically lost his life on May 3, 2022, in Bunnell, Florida. Hall was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a violent confrontation between two rival groups. The incident was part of a series of violent exchanges between a group from Palm Coast known as GSO (Get Stepped On) and another group from south Bunnell. These groups had been engaged in a cycle of retaliatory violence, including attempted robberies, carjackings, and drive-by shootings. The violence escalated when members of the Bunnell group shot at a vehicle occupied by members of the Palm Coast group, leading to a series of retaliatory attacks that ultimately claimed the lives of Hall and another teenager, Noah Smith.
In the aftermath of Hall's death, law enforcement officials conducted a thorough investigation that led to multiple arrests. Devandre Williams, who was 17 at the time of the crime, was identified as the shooter responsible for Hall's death. Williams was also implicated in the earlier killing of Noah Smith, where he drove the car from which shots were fired. Williams reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in both murders. He pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder. Because of his age at the time of the crimes, Williams is entitled to have his sentence reviewed after serving 15 years for Smith's killing and 25 years for Hall's.
In addition to Williams, other individuals were also charged in connection with the violent incidents. Tyrese Patterson, also known as Pooh, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder with a firearm in Smith's killing. Patterson reached a plea deal to a lesser charge of second-degree murder and faces a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison. The investigations revealed that the violence stemmed from a feud between the two groups, which had been involved in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, battery, and armed robbery. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office emphasized that both Hall and Smith were good kids who were tragically caught in the middle of the senseless violence.
