Steven Charlostin, a 21-year-old from Orlando, Florida, tragically lost his life on July 22, 2017, in Mount Dora, Florida. The incident occurred after a rave party, where Charlostin was found dead in the driver's seat of a stolen car. The vehicle, reported stolen from Tampa, was still running with Charlostin's right foot on the gas and brake pedals. The seat he was in was reclined, indicating that no one could have been sitting behind him. An autopsy revealed that Charlostin had been shot twice in the head, with the bullets believed to have come from the back right of the vehicle. A Glock with bullets matching those that killed Charlostin was found on the floorboard of the rear passenger seat.
The investigation led to the arrest of Rashad Bishop Charles Findley, a 24-year-old man who was also found at the scene with gunshot wounds. Findley was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Charlostin's death. He was discovered bleeding in a nearby driveway, with a blood trail leading from the vehicle to where he was lying. Findley had been shot twice in the chest, but the gun that fired those bullets was not recovered. Detectives found ten .45-caliber bullets in the vehicle, which were determined to have been shot from the front passenger side. Surveillance video from a nearby gas station showed Findley in the same type of vehicle four hours before the shooting, wearing the same clothes he had on when found in the driveway.
The case against Findley was built on substantial evidence, including the presence of a Glock in the car, surveillance footage, and the blood trail. Despite being shot, Findley was not cooperative with the investigators, only stating that he would "take care" of the person who shot him. The investigation revealed that Findley was a known gang member with multiple felony convictions and a history of failing to appear in court. He was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The case highlighted the violent circumstances surrounding Charlostin's death and the complexities of the investigation that followed.
