In the summer of 2026, 18-year-old Samson Yamil Campbell, who had been living in Princeton, Illinois, returned to his hometown of DeLand, Florida, for a somber task. He was there to spread the ashes of his family's beloved dog, and his childhood friend, 19-year-old Dustin Rose, came to be with him. Rose, a student at The Citadel military college and a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard, joined Campbell in their hometown, a place that held their shared memories. Those who knew Samson described him as compassionate and caring, with a mischievous side and a knack for making people laugh with a well-timed joke. Though he could be quiet around strangers, he was deeply cherished by his parents, Samuel Wesley Campbell and Jessica Ashley Gonzalez, his siblings, and a wide circle of family and friends.
The evening of July 29, 2026, took a devastating turn. Campbell and Rose were found shot multiple times at a vacant industrial property located at 213 West New York Avenue, just behind the historic Athens Theatre. The friends were discovered shortly before 11 p.m. and were pronounced dead at the scene. The news of the double homicide stunned the community. The DeLand Police Department immediately launched an intensive investigation, dedicating nearly 1,200 personnel hours in less than a week to unravel the case. Investigators quickly identified a person of interest through surveillance footage from the area, leading them to 17-year-old Keyan Jayden Rundell.
The investigation revealed that Campbell and Rose knew Rundell and had arranged to meet with him on the night of their deaths. An altercation reportedly took place during the meeting, which lasted only about three minutes. According to a witness who spoke with Rundell after the killings, he claimed the two had tried to rob him, and he shot them in a panic. Investigators found that Campbell had a gun, though it did not match the casings at the scene, and Rose was carrying pepper spray. A subsequent search warrant executed at a residence connected to Rundell uncovered the e-bike and clothing he was believed to have used on the night of the murders. After a manhunt involving the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service, Rundell was located and arrested without incident at a hotel in Manatee County on August 4, 2026. He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder. Just days later, on August 7, his 41-year-old father, Daytron W. Etkins, was also arrested and charged with a felony count of accessory after the fact, accused of helping his son try to evade law enforcement. The State Attorney's office announced their intention to pursue the maximum possible charges and punishment for Rundell, indicating that despite his age, he would likely be charged as an adult. As of mid-August 2026, the case is in the early stages of the legal process, with the community and the families of Samson Campbell and Dustin Rose awaiting the full measure of justice for the two young lives that were so violently cut short.
