On December 17, 2024, at approximately 8 p.m., 21-year-old Terance Darnell Pope Jr. was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Best Buy located at 1501 Rinehart Road in Sanford, Florida. Upon arrival, Sanford Police officers found Pope suffering from a gunshot wound; he was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear.
Authorities have not determined whether Pope was a patron of the store or if the incident originated elsewhere and concluded in the parking lot. Sanford Police spokesperson Bianca Gillett stated, "We know that he was in that parking lot. We don't know why. We don't know if he was a patron of the store. We don't know if something occurred on the roadway and ended there."
As of now, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. Investigators are exploring all possibilities and have urged anyone with information to come forward. Given the busy holiday shopping season, it's believed that witnesses may have been present during the incident. Gillett emphasized, "We know that there had to be people in that area that saw something, so we are imploring the public to please contact the Sanford Police Department."
Pope, a resident of DeBary, Florida, was known for his athletic achievements, having played college football at Davenport University in Michigan during the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons. His untimely death has left the community seeking answers and justice. Authorities continue to investigate the case and are reviewing surveillance footage from the area in hopes of identifying those responsible. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800-423-8477.
