U.S. Marshals announced the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect in connection with the deaths of two people last week in downtown DeLand.
Keyan Jayden Rundell was taken into custody early Wednesday morning in Ellenton. The arrest comes just hours after police issued an arrest warrant for Rundell.
DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger announced the arrest at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, saying Rundell faces two counts of second-degree murder.
He is currently held at the Manatee County jail and will be transferred to Volusia County at a later date.
Last Wednesday, police said the bodies of Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell were found on a vacant industrial property near the Athens Theater. The childhood friends had each been shot multiple times. One of their mothers tracked a phone and located them at the scene.
By the following afternoon, Umberger said investigators had already obtained surveillance footage of an unidentified person of interest. A search warrant was executed late Saturday night by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team. During that search, investigators recovered clothing they believe the suspect was wearing the night of the murders, along with an e-bike they believe he rode to and from the crime scene.
The suspect was not home when the search warrant was served. An arrest warrant was obtained Sunday, and investigators quickly determined Rundell had likely fled the area, Umberger said.
“We worked with the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force,” Umberger said. “Through our investigative efforts, we learned and determined that he had likely fled outside of our immediate jurisdiction.”
The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force took the lead beginning Sunday, which ultimately led them to Manatee County Wednesday morning, where Rundell was taken into custody without incident.
Umberger said the three young men knew each other in some capacity and met at the rear of 213 W. New York Ave. on the evening of July 28.
“This meeting resulted in the shooting of multiple rounds and the murder of Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell,” Umberger said.
Police said they are still working to determine an exact motive and have limited information on why the three came together at that location.
Umberger confirmed Rundell has a prior criminal history that includes aggravated battery, aggravated assault and firearms violations.
The investigation remains active and additional arrests may be made.
R.J. Larizza, state attorney of the 7th Judicial Circuit, said his office will likely pursue adult charges against Rundell and is reviewing whether to upgrade the current second-degree murder charges to a more serious offense.
[WATCH: DeLand police investigate double homicide near Athens Theatre]
Anyone with information is encouraged to submit tips through DeLand Police Department’s Crime Watch portal.