A pair of football players at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens were arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery at a campus dorm, authorities said.
Russell Stroud Jr., 21, and Lelend Johnson, 18, were arrested Thursday on charges of home invasion robbery with aggravated battery, Miami-Dade jail records showed.
Stroud, originally from Tampa, is listed as a sophomore defensive back on the FMU Athletics website, while Johnson, under the name Leeland, is listed as a sophomore linebacker from Gainesville.
Miami-Dade Corrections
Miami-Dade Corrections
Russell Stroud Jr. and Lelend Johnson
According to arrest reports, the alleged incident happened around 11 p.m. Wednesday when the victim said he was preparing to shower when he heard someone knocking on his dorm room door.
The victim said he opened his door and saw Johnson, then saw Stroud and two other unknown people who were wearing all black with ski masks push their way into his room, the reports said.
He said Stroud yelled “re-up” and directed the two unknown suspects to hit him before he was pistol-whipped in the head and punched multiple times, the reports said.
The suspects took his bookbag that contained school supplies and his high school diploma, and one of them grabbed his phone but dropped it as they ran out of the room.
He alerted campus security, who contacted police.
The victim said he didn’t know why he was targeted, and had recognized Stroud from his dreadlocks, the reports said.
Police reviewed surveillance footage that showed multiple subjects exiting one dorm room and standing nearby while Johnson, who wasn’t wearing a mask, knocked on the victim’s door, the reports said.
When Johnson was interviewed by detectives, he said he came from Stroud’s room but was alone when he knocked on the door and said multiple people came out of nowhere and he tried to stop them from entering, the reports said.
Johnson and Stroud were booked into jail, and were expected to appear in bond court on Friday.