A high school football player was shot dead during an attempted home invasion in Florida last week.
Gerald Anderson, 18, and Luismil Hernandez, 18, allegedly broke into an Orlando home Wednesday night.
The 70-year-old homeowner shot at the two men who then returned fire, according to Click Orlando.
Gerald Anderson, 18, was fatally shot during a home invasion late Wednesday in Orlando
Anderson was fatally shot during the attempted robbery. Hernandez allegedly ran out the back door and was arrested Friday on charges of armed burglary and first-degree felony murder.
Authorities found Anderson dead, lying on a bed holding a .40 caliber handgun. He had been shot twice in the chest and once in the arm.
Homeowner Juan Jose Caraballo was shot in the arm, chest and stomach. He was taken to the hospital to undergo surgery and is in stable condition.
Anderson was a senior at Edgewater High School and played back-up end. His death has left the school and his coach devastated
Anderson was a senior at Edgewater High School and played back-up end. His death has left the school and his coach devastated.
‘It’s extremely tough. It’s been devastating,’ said coach Cameron Duke to the Orlando Sentinel.
‘When I first took the job in January [2017] I met Gerald and I understood that he had a rough past, but he had really made drastic changes in his life while I was coaching him… while he was part of the program.’
Anderson was expected to attend college in the fall.
Anderson and Luismil Hernandez, 18, allegedly broke into a Florida home (pictured) when the homeowner shot at the two men who returned fire
Hernandez (pictured) was arrested on Friday on charges of armed burglary and first-degree felony murder
‘He was on track to graduate and had been accepted to Bethune-Cookman. He was with us this season and it’s… it’s just been heartbreaking. I’ve never dealt with something like this before in my life,’ Duke said.
‘When he was with us, he was great. He didn’t miss any summer workouts, didn’t miss a practice and he apparently got caught up with the wrong people after football ended,’ Duke said.
Duke plans to attend Anderson’s funeral with the football team, and will address the students when they return from winter break.
‘He was making so many decisions in his life that were positive and to be honest, this is the toughest thing I’ve ever been through,’ Duke said. ‘I saw the good in him.’
Under Florida law, if a death results from a felony, the accused felon can be charged with murder even if the person did not pull the trigger. Hernandez has been charged with first-degree felony murder.