Police say Keyan Jayden Rundell faces two second-degree murder counts and should be considered armed and dangerous.
DELAND, FL — Police have identified a 17-year-old suspect wanted in the shooting deaths of two childhood friends whose bodies were discovered last week on vacant industrial property near downtown DeLand.
The DeLand Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Keyan Jayden Rundell on two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Dustin Rose, 19, and Samson Campbell, 18. Police said Rundell remained wanted Tuesday and warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous. The charges are allegations, and Rundell has not been convicted.
Authorities urged anyone who sees Rundell not to approach him or attempt to detain him. Police described him as a Black male who is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 110 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Investigators have not publicly disclosed where they believe he may be or whether he has access to a vehicle.
Rose and Campbell were found with multiple gunshot wounds at about 10:40 p.m. July 29 on an industrial property near the Athens Theatre and West New York Avenue, according to police. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The two had known each other since childhood and were last seen together in surveillance footage recorded the previous evening.
Relatives began searching after they were unable to reach the young men. One of their mothers tracked a phone to the property where the bodies were found, according to local news reports citing investigators. Police have not released the exact time of the shootings or explained why the friends were at the property.
Investigators have also not disclosed what evidence led them to identify Rundell as the suspect. No possible motive has been announced, and police have not said publicly whether Rundell knew Rose or Campbell. The department said the investigation remains active and additional information will be released when doing so will not interfere with the case.
Officers served a search warrant late Aug. 1 at a home on Loughton Street as part of the investigation. The operation included assistance from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office SWAT team and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Authorities did not explain how the property was connected to the killings or disclose what, if anything, was recovered during the search.
Police increased patrols and their presence around DeLand as concern about the killings spread through the community. Before Rundell was publicly identified, investigators said they believed the shootings were an isolated incident. The department has not announced evidence of a broader threat but continues to warn residents not to confront the wanted teenager.
Rose was a student at The Citadel in South Carolina and a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard. He was home on a break when he died. Campbell, originally from the DeLand area, had been living near Chicago and had returned to Florida. Family members said the friends planned to spread the ashes of Campbell’s dog during the visit.
The South Carolina National Guard offered condolences to Rose’s family, friends and fellow service members. Relatives described both victims as close friends with plans to return to their schools, work and families shortly after the visit. Their deaths led to an outpouring of grief in DeLand and among the military and school communities connected to Rose.
Rundell remained at large as of early Wednesday. Police asked anyone with immediate information about his location to call 911. Investigators have not announced additional suspects, and court proceedings cannot begin unless Rundell is taken into custody.
Author note: Last updated August 5, 2026.