Four individuals have been taken into custody linked to the shooting of Florida linebacker Ethan Pritchard, who is currently in critical but stable condition at a Florida hospital.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports that 18-year-old Carson Miller was detained, along with 23-year-old German Atkins, 22-year-old Jaden Bodson, and a 16-year-old male connected to the incident that occurred on August 31.
Miller, Bodson, and the minor face charges of three counts of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle, while Atkins has been charged with probation violations.
Authorities apprehended the three adult suspects after executing search warrants in Havana and Woodville.
The minor voluntarily turned himself in to the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young indicated that Pritchard was engaged in “absolutely nothing wrong” when he was shot in the back of the head while dropping off his aunt and child. As reported by local media.
Young elaborated, stating that Pritchard was simply “in the wrong place at the wrong time” and noted that four suspects are suspected to be involved in a prior shooting of Marcus Harris on August 25.
“We think there’s some mistaken identity in this case,” Young remarked. “Harris was the victim in the earlier shooting. We believe the vehicle Ethan was driving during the incident is the same one that was involved in the shooting.”
He added, “We don’t have all the facts pinned down yet, but that vehicle is under scrutiny… I can say that Ethan wasn’t really part of this situation.”
Freshman Pritchard has missed the first two games of the Florida State season, where the team triumphed over Alabama and East Texas A&M.
Pritchard’s father, Earl, was present at last Saturday’s game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium, where he supported the team from the sidelines and locker rooms.
FSU head coach Mike Norvell mentioned to reporters that Pritchard “absolutely loves football.” He further expressed his dismay that circumstances beyond Pritchard’s control have overshadowed his passion, saying, “You don’t always understand why these things happen, but I believe there’s a greater purpose at play for Ethan and this football team.”
