Four Arrested in Shooting of Florida State Linebacker Ethan Pritchard
Authorities say the freshman was struck in the head in what investigators believe was a case of mistaken identity; three suspects face attempted murder charges
Four people were arrested this week in the shooting of Florida State University linebacker Ethan Pritchard, who remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition after being struck in the head, state law enforcement officials said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the arrests of Carson Miller, 18; Germany Atkins, 23; Jayden Bodison, 22; and a 16-year-old juvenile in connection with the Aug. 31 shooting. Miller, Bodison and the juvenile were charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Atkins was charged with a probation violation, authorities said. Law enforcement executed search warrants in the towns of Havana and Woodville; the juvenile later turned himself in at the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.
Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young told reporters during a news conference that Pritchard was “absolutely nothing wrong” when he was shot in the back of the head as he was dropping off an aunt and a child, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Young said investigators believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity and that the four suspects were believed to be involved in a separate Aug. 25 shooting of Marcus Harris at the Havana Heights Apartments — the same complex where Pritchard was struck.
“We believe in this investigation that it was a mistaken identity,” Young said. “We believe that the same type of car that Ethan was driving was involved in that shooting. … I can say that Ethan was totally, totally nowhere near involved in this incident.”
Pritchard, a freshman linebacker, missed Florida State’s first two games of the season after the shooting. The Seminoles opened the season with wins over Alabama and East Texas A&M. The team held a visible show of support for Pritchard at the Sept. 6 home game, when defensive back Earl Little Jr. held Pritchard’s jersey on the sideline as the team celebrated its victory.
Pritchard’s father, Earl, attended the Sept. 6 game and joined the team on the sideline and in the locker room, school officials said. Florida State coach Mike Norvell told reporters the linebacker “absolutely loves” football and called the shooting a “senseless act.” Norvell said he believed the team and community were rallying around Pritchard and his family.
Authorities have not released additional details about the alleged motive beyond the possible linkage to the earlier shooting, and investigators have not publicly confirmed a ballistic or other forensic match between the two incidents. Prosecutors will review the arrests and the charges filed by the FDLE and local law enforcement.
The Seminoles, who open the Atlantic Coast Conference slate in the coming weeks, have not provided a timeline for Pritchard’s return to the team pending his recovery and any medical or legal developments. Police asked anyone with information about the shootings to contact investigators as the case moves forward.