FLORIDA STORE OWNER ACCUSED OF DELIBERATELY RUNNING OVER 14-YEAR-OLD BOY HE SUSPECTED OF BURGLARY

A 14-year-old boy has died after a Florida convenience store owner allegedly chased him down and intentionally struck him with a car, believing the teenager had been involved in a break-in. The boy was left critically injured in a roadside ditch, and the case has now escalated to a second-degree murder charge.

The victim, Hunter Russey, was found unresponsive in a ditch in West Melbourne, Florida, during the early morning hours of October 13, 2026. He had suffered multiple serious injuries, including skull fractures, according to investigators.

Police identified the suspect as Kavan Vishnubhai Patel, 32, who owns a local convenience store. Authorities say Patel received an alert about a possible break-in at his business around 4:30 a.m. and went to investigate. He reportedly saw someone leaving the area on an electric bicycle and believed the person was connected to the incident.

According to investigators, Patel pursued the teenager in his vehicle and allegedly admitted to intentionally striking him because he was angry about the suspected burglary. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the vehicle hitting the boy before crashing into a mailbox and trash cans.

The allegations took an even more troubling turn when investigators said Patel did not immediately tell police about the collision or the injured teenager. Instead, he reported the suspected break-in. Hunter was discovered in the roadside ditch around 7 a.m., approximately an hour after the incident, and was rushed for medical treatment.

Despite efforts to save him, Hunter’s condition remained critical. On October 17, his family made the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support. He later died from his injuries.

Following his death, authorities upgraded the charges against Patel to second-degree murder. He had initially faced charges including aggravated battery and leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury.

Investigators have not confirmed whether Hunter was actually involved in the suspected break-in. That question remains important as the case moves through the legal system.

In the midst of their grief, Hunter’s family made the extraordinary decision to donate his organs, giving other people the possibility of a healthier future even as they faced the devastating loss of their son.

The case has sparked serious concerns about the consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands. A suspected property crime should be reported to police, but investigators allege that this incident escalated into a fatal confrontation that cost a child his life.

Hunter was only 14. As the criminal case proceeds, his family is left mourning a young life cut short, while the courts will determine the defendant’s legal responsibility.

SOURCES: New York Post