The tragedy is made even more heartbreaking by the reason the pair had reunited.
Campbell had returned to his hometown of DeLand to mourn the recent loss of his family’s beloved dog. Rose, a longtime friend who had known Campbell since childhood, accompanied him to help scatter the animal’s ashes. What was meant to be a moment of remembrance instead ended in unimaginable violence.
After nearly a week of searching, authorities announced Wednesday that 17-year-old Keyan Rundell had been taken into custody without incident in Manatee County. He now faces two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the killings.
Despite the arrest, investigators have not publicly identified a motive, leaving many wondering what led to the fatal encounter.
Local outlet WCIV reported the latest developments in the investigation:
“The 17-year-old suspect wanted for the double homicide, killing a Citadel cadet and another teenager, has been arrested, according to the DeLand Police Department.”
“Keyan Rundell, 17, was taken into custody without incident in Manatee County and is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the July 29 deaths of Dustin Rose, a 19-year-old Citadel Cadet, and 18-year-old Samson Campbell, 18, according to the DeLand Police Department.”
“Police said officers responded around 10:40 p.m. July 29 to a report of two deceased people at a vacant industrial property in downtown DeLand. Investigators identified Rundell as a person of interest by the following afternoon after reviewing surveillance footage from the scene.”
“Authorities said a search warrant executed Saturday night led investigators to clothing and an e-bike they believe Rundell was using on the night of the killings, along with digital evidence that allegedly tracked his movements after the deaths. Rundell was not at the location when the warrant was served.”
“Law enforcement on Wednesday afternoon announced the arrest of 17-year-old Keyan Rundell.”
Investigators say surveillance footage from the crime scene helped identify Rundell as a person of interest within a day of the murders. As detectives continued piecing together the suspect’s movements, they executed a search warrant that reportedly uncovered clothing, an e-bike believed to have been used on the night of the shootings, and digital evidence allegedly tracing his whereabouts after the killings. However, Rundell was not present when officers searched the location.
Fox News highlighted the backgrounds of the two victims, emphasizing that Rose had been working toward a lifelong goal of military service.
“A Citadel cadet and South Carolina Army National Guard member is one of two young men found shot to death in a vacant Florida lot, with police still hunting for a suspect.”
“The DeLand Police Department in Florida said Dustin Rose, 19, and Samson Campbell, 18, were found dead on Wednesday around 10:40 p.m. Rose and Campbell have been friends since they were children.”
“Rose, who attended The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, was home on break while pursuing his childhood dream of serving in the military. According to FOX 35, Rose recently became a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard.”
“Campbell, who’s originally from DeLand, was living with his aunt Karen Chobin in the Chicago area. Chobin said Campbell was in town to mourn the death of his family’s 8-year-old dog, who recently died, and was staying with Rose’s grandparents.”
“Rose was in DeLand to help Campbell spread his dog’s ashes, Chobin said.”
Friends and family continue to mourn the devastating loss of two young men whose lives were cut short under tragic circumstances. Rose was building a future in military service, while Campbell had simply returned home to honor the memory of a beloved family pet with the support of his closest friend.
As the criminal case moves forward, investigators continue working to determine what sparked the deadly shooting. Authorities have not released additional details regarding a possible motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The case has left many in the DeLand community grieving while hoping that the judicial process will ultimately provide answers—and justice—for the families of Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell.
