Florida Store Owner Accused of Deliberately Running Over 14-Year-Old Boy Suspected of Burglary

A Florida community has been left stunned after a 14-year-old boy died days after allegedly being struck by a store owner who suspected him of breaking into his business. Kavan Vishnubhai Patel, 32, is accused of intentionally hitting teenager Hunter Russey with his vehicle in West Melbourne, Florida. What began as a reported store burglary has since become a criminal case involving the death of a child and serious allegations against the business owner.

According to police, the incident began early on October 13, 2026, when an alarm alerted Patel to a suspected break-in at his store. Investigators say security footage showed someone in a light-colored hoodie leaving the area on an electric bicycle. Patel allegedly followed the teenager in his vehicle and struck him. Police later determined that the boy had suffered severe injuries, including multiple skull fractures.

Hunter was discovered lying unresponsive in a roadside ditch and rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Authorities allege that Patel left the scene and returned to his business without informing responding officers that he had hit the teenager. Investigators reportedly uncovered evidence linking Patel’s vehicle to the incident and confronted him about his involvement. According to police, Patel then acknowledged striking the boy and said he had been angry at the time.

Patel was initially arrested and charged with aggravated battery and leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury. After Hunter died on October 17, following the withdrawal of life support, the charges were upgraded to include second-degree murder, according to PEOPLE. The case has raised serious questions about the decision to pursue a suspected burglar rather than leave the matter to law enforcement. Patel is accused of deliberately striking the teenager; the allegations will be addressed through the legal process.

Hunter’s death has left his family facing an unimaginable loss. In a heartbreaking decision amid their grief, his family chose to donate his organs, giving other people a chance at life. The gesture has become a poignant part of a tragedy that began with a suspected property crime and ended with the death of a 14-year-old.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Patel’s attorney had not publicly commented on the allegations at the time of PEOPLE’s report. As the case moves forward, the central question will be whether the evidence supports prosecutors’ claims about what happened that morning. For Hunter’s loved ones, however, the legal proceedings cannot undo the loss of a young life taken far too soon.

Source: PEOPLE