ORLANDO, Fla. – MARCH 10 UPDATE: The state attorney’s office has filed a no-petition notice against Jeremiah Cundiff, saying the case against him is not suitable for prosecution.
Orlando police announced Thursday they arrested a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old in connection with the November fatal shooting of a 19-year-old during a football game at Jones High School.
Orlando police Chief Eric Smith said Jeremiah Cundiff, 17, was arrested at his home Wednesday and faces a second-degree murder charge. Elijah Ayrow, 15, was arrested early last week and faces an attempted second-degree murder charge.
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Cundiff attended AMI Kids in Apopka, officers said. Police also said Ayrow attended Jones High School as of May 2022, but Orange County Public Schools later clarified that he withdrew from the district as of May 2022 and is not enrolled in any district-operated schools.
Police said they were also looking to arrest one more shooter in the case.
“Our detectives are not done with this case, as they continue to investigate and charge anyone who acted in the wrong in this incident, or even after this incident,” Smith said. “If they hindered the investigation or tampered with evidence. If you have information you think we should know, you need to contact us, or call Crimeline.”
Gamaine Patrick Brown, 19, was shot and killed during a high school football game in November. Three other people were hurt but not killed.
Police said there had been an argument in the parking lot between two groups of people when Brown was shot. Police said the shooting was gang-related, but would not name the gangs involved.
“Joining gangs is not what we want, we want people to make better choices in life, and giving gangs notoriety in this kind of atmosphere is not what we want to do,” Smith said.
Orlando police at the time said they detained four juveniles, one of whom was in possession of a firearm. However, Chief Smith said neither of the two people arrested were among the four juveniles detained that night.
Brown was an alumnus of Jones High School, a former member of My Brother’s Keeper and a former member of Parramore Kidz Zone. People who knew Brown said he was not involved in any wrongdoing.
Smith is calling on the community to help teens make better choices. He also reacted to the youth gang violence.
“For them to turn to that life and be so young, it’s terrible,” Smith said. “There’s better things they could be doing. Kids that age should be out there doing what was going on that night: playing football, having fun, enjoying their friends. Not out there carrying guns and getting into arguments and next thing you know they’re shooting each other.”
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
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