DeLAND, Fla. (WCIV) — A Citadel cadet who was also a member of the South Carolina National Guard was among two young men found shot to death Wednesday night at an industrial property in DeLand, Florida, police said.
Officers with the DeLand Police Department responded around 10:40 p.m. to a report of two deceased people at 213 W. New York Ave. They found Dustin Rose, 19, and Samson Campbell, 18, both suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene at 10:48 p.m. They were last seen alive before the shooting Tuesday evening.
Police said Rose was a student at The Citadel in Charleston and served in the National Guard. Investigators believe Rose and Campbell knew each other. News 4 reached out to The Citadel for comment and is awaiting word back.
Authorities clarified that the shootings did not occur on the property of the nearby Athens Theatre, despite initial reports. Instead, the victims were found at a separate industrial property. The DeLand Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division is leading the investigation and said detectives are still working to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families today,” DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger said in a statement. “This is a tragic situation for all involved, and my department is working to find the answers as to what happened.”
The full press conference can be viewed in the player below.
Police said the investigation remains active and additional information will be released as it becomes available. At the time of a news conference earlier in the week, police didn’t know how long the men were deceased prior to their bodies being found. Additionally, police couldn’t provide details as to why Rose was in Florida at the time of the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the DeLand Police Department through its Crime Watch platform or the Criminal Investigations Division at 386-626-7400.