A Florida 19-year-old who recently graduated from high school and had earned a scholarship to play college football in California was shot and killed last week during a Craigslist transaction.
Brian Brown had graduated just two weeks ago from North Miami Beach Senior High School where he was a stand-out on the football team, and was just weeks away from leaving his home to start his new life in California at Merced College when he tragically lost his life, Local10.com reports.
Relatives said that the teen had advertised video games and a PlayStation to sell on Craigslist but when he went to meet with a potential buyers, he was attacked and shot three times in the back.
Brian’s father, Craig Brown, said that his son was a good person and would never hurt anyone.
“Happy, always smiling, a friend to everyone. Everyone who knew him — I can say at least 200 to 300 people have come here to hug me and told me what a great kid he was. and how much love he just had for everyone,” Craig Brown told the news station. “[He] wouldn’t hurt a fly, wouldn’t hurt anyone. [He] loved animals. He had this dog, you’d think this dog was one of his kids, man.”
Brian’s girlfriend, who was with him at the time, drove him to Jackson North Medical Center, before he was transferred to Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, where he died.
Craig Brown said that his son was ready to get to college after receiving a full scholarship due to his prowess on the field. The teen had recently gone shopping for furniture for his new dorm room. Brian was supposed to leave for California on July 1.
“Mr. Brown had a bright future as a student-athlete and we were very excited for him to be apart of our program,” Bob Casey, Merced College’s head coach told the news station. “His passing has left us all stunned and we can do nothing, but pray for his family.”
“He was getting ready for it, staying in shape, and everyone, his team mates, friends, everyone was talking about it. He was ready to go,” Craig Brown said of his son’s preparation for his new life.
Now all that the family has left is the pain over the teen’s senseless death.
“I don’t know how I’m going to live without Brian. I don’t know how,” the teen’s mother, Landcy Brown said.
Miami-Dade police are investigating the shooting.
Read more at Local10.com.
