BUNNELL, Fla. – A beloved high school basketball star was killed in a double shooting Tuesday evening in Bunnell.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, gunshots were reported just after 10 p.m. near the intersection of South Pine and East Booe streets.
“I just heard a lot of shots. I think someone has been shot. I think someone has been shot. I don’t know any details. You need to get here as soon as possible,” a 911 caller can be heard telling a dispatcher in audio obtained by News4JAX.
The Sheriff’s Office said its deputies and the Bunnell Police Department responded and learned two people had been shot -- including 16-year-old Keymarion Hall. Deputies said he later died at a hospital from his injuries. According to Flagler Live, Hall survived a previous shooting in 2020, but there isn’t any information the shootings are related.
The second person who was shot Tuesday night did not have life-threatening injuries and was treated and released, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“This appears to be a focused incident,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Our investigators have worked throughout the night and I ask anyone with information to call us.”
The Flagler County school district released the following statement on the death of Hall, who was a sophomore at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
“Flagler County Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt joins the members of the School Board in mourning the loss of another young life to violence. Flagler Schools asks anyone with information about last night’s homicide to please cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate the case.
“We do have additional counselors at our schools to assist students, faculty, and staff in processing the emotions they are now experiencing.”
Hall was a guard on the high school’s varsity basketball team. Loved ones say he shined on the court and had dreams of making it big as a basketball player.
Hall’s cousin DeWayne Jenkins said Hall was a fierce competitor from a young age.
“He was one of those kids that have all the talent in the world, all the ability in the world,” Jenkins said.
Johnny Hampton with Flagler United coached Hall on a travel basketball team since he was 9.
“As an athlete, he was probably one of the best basketball players in the area. Everyone around thought he had a great future in basketball,” Hampton said. “You can ask anyone in this town who they thought was one of the better basketball players, and he would come up.”
Hampton said he didn’t realize that Tuesday would be his last practice with Hall.
“I saw him last night,” Hampton told News4JAX on Wednesday. “We had practice last night from 7 to 8 o’clock at the gym right down the block from where he got shot.”
Hall’s cousin heard the shooting.
“I heard the gunshots,” Jenkins said. I went outside after I heard the commotion and everything, I heard some names drop and I was, like, God, no, I hope it’s not him.”
The Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit is investigating, per the Sheriff’s Office’s contract with the City of Bunnell.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling 386-313-4911 or sending an email to TIPS@FlaglerSheriff.com. Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by calling 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).