SANFORD, Fla. – A 22-year-old man was shot and died Saturday night outside a Sanford, Florida, home while attempting to sell a set of headphones, according to authorities.
According to Sanford police, officers responded to reports of a shooting soon after 9:30 p.m. Saturday at West 3rd Street and Pomegranate Avenue. Officers discovered a white pickup truck half submerged in a retention pond near the intersection, and 22-year-old Brandon Leo of Orlando was found dead inside.
Police said that Leo had been shot and murdered.
According to the early inquiry, police believe Leo was meeting someone at a home “to sell a pair of headphones,” later identified as Apple AirPods. According to police, Leo had pulled into the home’s driveway and was waiting in his truck when two unknown people approached the driver’s side and began shooting.
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According to Sanford Police Department Public Information Officer Bianca Gillett, the transaction appears to have begun online, with an arrangement to meet at a Sanford home. She stated that the house was unoccupied, implying that this may have been a “setup” to take advantage of Leo and the sale.
She claimed Leo appeared to be an innocent victim.
“There is simply no explanation. “It just makes no sense,” she remarked.
“A family is mourning the loss of their son over a set of headphones. This tragedy is not even close to being understandable. “Our investigators have been working hard to find these two people who do not value human life,” stated Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith in a statement.
Search continues for two alleged suspects.
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Sandford Police said they are looking for at least two people in connection with the sale and shooting. Police stated very little information about the suspects was known or disseminated. They are now seeking the public’s assistance.
Anyone with information on the two individuals’ identity or the incident itself is asked to call Sanford police at 800-423-8477 (TIPS). Anonymous tips can be submitted at Crimeline.org. Authorities have announced a reward of up to $5,000.
According to investigators, the victim met the males online and agreed to meet in person to finalize the sale.
Unfortunately, this episode serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the need to hold public meetings. “These people showed that they couldn’t care less about the lives of another human being. “And, like those people, others are looking to do something similar,” said former Orlando Police Chief and policing specialist Orlando Rolón.
Most police departments, including Sanford, have designated “e-commerce exchange zones” where people can safely buy and sell things.
“More than likely, there will be security,” Rolón explained, adding, “Never go alone.”