JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An arrest has been made in the murder of 13-year-old Prince Holland, who was killed in a car in Moncrief on Dec. 3, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced Monday.
Marcel Johnson was arrested for the crime. Waters said this is "the first domino to fall" in what will be a continued takedown of street gangs.
Waters said the drive-by was targeted and pre-planned. He blamed conflict between two gangs. Waters said the gangs are called "3" and "320."
Typically, police do not release the names of gangs or refer to them with those names, but he wants the community to know who they are, he said.
He said he does not believe Johnson committed the crimes alone and there is an ongoing investigation.
"We're coming for you," he said. "We will not rest, we will tire, and you will be held accountable."
Prince was on his way home from football tryouts at the Legends Center and Gymnasium when someone opened fire into the car, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Prince was killed and the driver of the car, a coach, was badly injured.
“When you have two rival gangs targeting one another and instead of accomplishing you goal you ended up hurting an innocent child. Those bullets don’t have any names on them," said Marwan Porter, Holland’s family attorney.
Burroughs attorney, John Phillips, sent us a statement from Burroughs that says in part:
“All I wanted to do was give youth an alternative and show them how football unites and lifts us up. We’ve met with detectives and my attorney has helped them with interviews. We are here to assist JSO and we thank you for making an arrest and look forward to justice.”
Sheriff TK Waters says he knows that Johnson did not commit this horrific crime alone.
First Coast News talked with Kim Varner, retired JSO detective, who explains how people’s tips could really help JSO find their suspect.
“I can guarantee you that the sheriffs office has been working this day and night you know 25 hours a day trying to make sure they find the killer of this kids," said Varner.
First Coast Crime Stoppers Executive Director Wyllie Hodges told First Coast News on Dec. 26 that the case had only generated four tips. However, he said, "the person who did it is going to run their mouth."
Waters promised the night of the crime that JSO would not give up until the shooter is caught.
"To anyone who's out there responsible, we aren't gonna rest, we're gonna work, until we find out who's responsible," he said. "Any stone we can turn over, we're going to turn it over."
'I would have picked him up myself'
Prince's mother, Chantel Brown, said the coach did not have permission to give Prince a ride that night. She believes if someone had called her, Prince would still be alive.
"Had I known, I doubt they would've gave my son a ride, because I would have picked him up myself," she said. "They didn't even know who I was. My son just met them."
Prince's family is represented by Porter Law Firm. Their attorney says they are trying to learn more about what happened and have questions about the league, including why parents were not required to sign waivers or complete any paperwork.
