The father of a 17-year-old murder suspect has been arrested in DeLand, Florida, after police determined he knowingly assisted his son following a Volusia County double homicide, according to the DeLand Police Department. Authorities identified the father as 41-year-old Daytron W. Etkins, who was taken into custody at his residence on felony charges of accessory after the fact. Police stated that Etkins took actions intended to help his son avoid law enforcement.
The Investigation and Arrest of Keyan Jayden Rundell
The teenage suspect, Keyan Jayden Rundell of DeLand, faces two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of two childhood friends, according to the DeLand Police Department. Law enforcement officers arrested Rundell in Manatee County on Wednesday following a public appeal for assistance in locating him. DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger noted that while a specific motive remains unclear at this stage, investigators believe that the victims and the shooter knew each other.
The double homicide investigation began after two young men, 19-year-old Dustin Rose and 18-year-old Samson Campbell, were found with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced dead in DeLand. Rose hailed from DeLeon Springs and lived in South Carolina, where he attended the Citadel and served in the South Carolina Army National Guard. Campbell grew up in DeLand and had recently moved to Chicago. Family members shared with WESH 2 that the two friends had returned to town to spread the ashes of a pet.
Did You Know? Family members told WESH 2 that victims Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell had traveled back to town specifically to spread the ashes of a pet before they were killed.
Police Response and Legal Implications
Prurince Dice of the DeLand Police Department emphasized the strict boundaries of the law regarding family involvement in criminal cases, stating, “Family relationships do not place anyone above the law or excuse conduct that interferes with a criminal investigation.” Investigators stated that Daytron W. Etkins actively interfered by assisting his son after the killings. Furthermore, law enforcement records show that Etkins carries a criminal history spanning at least three Florida counties.
What May Happen Next
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in connection with the DeLand double homicide?
According to the DeLand Police Department, 17-year-old Keyan Jayden Rundell was arrested on two counts of second-degree murder, and his 41-year-old father, Daytron W. Etkins, was arrested on a felony charge of accessory after the fact.
What are the backgrounds of the victims?
Dustin Rose, 19, was from DeLeon Springs, studied at the Citadel, and served in the South Carolina Army National Guard. Samson Campbell, 18, was from DeLand and had recently moved to Chicago.
What did police allege the father did?
Police stated that Daytron W. Etkins knowingly assisted his son after the homicides and took actions intended to help him avoid law enforcement.