College football player from Florida killed while home for break, coaches say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former coaches of Malik Brown, 18, said the Florida high school football star who went on to play at the college level was shot and killed on Friday night in Durkeeville.

Brown, of Jacksonville, played football at Lee High School, graduated in May 2019 and was on scholarship to play football at Warner University in Lake Wales.

He was home for the holidays, and leaves behind a baby girl.

Omar Simmons said he coached Brown at Duval Charter School at Baymeadows, before Brown went on to play at Robert E. Lee High School.

“Just heartbroken, saddened,” said Simmons. “Another young man that had a bright future is now gone. He doesn’t even get to see the age of 21.”

Around 8:30 Friday night, police were alerted to the shooting on West 12th Street by Shot Spotter. Investigators said at least six shots were fired.

Brown was one of two people shot. The second victim, a 26-year-old man, went to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and is expected to survive.

Police said the double shooting stemmed from a robbery.

Ronald Washington, another local coach, said he’s known Brown since he was a child.

“This has to stop,” said Washington. “There’s too many young guys losing their lives to senseless stuff.”

According to records, Brown was the first homicide victim of the new year.

“We have to stop this violence,” said his former 7-on-7 coach Kevin Johnson. “We have to do something about it, as coaches, as parents, just, in our community.”

His former coaches are sending their condolences to the family and calling for an end to the violence. Police told ActionNewsJax there were no witnesses.

ActionNewsJax's Ryan Nelson reached out to JSO asking if any witnesses have come forward, or if any suspect descriptions are available.

This story will be updated when new information becomes available.