Central Florida News

State Attorney Worrell Defends Her Office’s Dropped Charges in Jones High School Shooting

Published

4 years ago

March 22, 2023

State Attorney Monique Worrell gives a press update in her office in Downtown Orlando Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Photo: J. Willie David III/Florida National News.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Another real-life episode of Law & Order unfolded during State Attorney Monique Worrell’s press conference at her office Wednesday.

Worrell provided a detailed explanation for why her office has chosen not to prosecute the 17-year-old suspect in the shooting at outside a Jones High School football game that resulted in 19-year-old Gamaine Brown losing his life on November 12, 2022. She shared that her office couldn’t prosecute in the case due to insufficient evidence for a second degree murder charge.

She said the witness that spoke with law enforcement evidently didn’t recognize the suspect when shown a picture of him and, since the suspect was wearing a mask at the time, could only be identified by his clothes, but the witness’s description of what the suspect wore didn’t match the clothing the suspect was actually wearing on the night in question.

“The witness identified the shooter by a nickname that was different from the nickname that the suspect who was arrested went by,” Worrell explained. “The witness did not know the person she identified, and she had never before seen their face. Complicating matters, at the time of the shooting, the person who shot and killed Mr. Brown was wearing a mask. So, the witness must have only been identifying the shooter by their clothing,” she said.

“Although we deal with tragedy on a daily basis in our office, I can’t begin to imagine the pain that Mr. Brown’s family is dealing with right now, especially given the circumstances of the deal of their child,” Worrell said.

“I spoke with Mr. Brown’s father recently, personally, to explain our office’s decision and to encourage him that we are still willing to work with the Orlando Police Department regarding the prosecution of any suspect that is presented to us,” she said.

She also referenced her initial comments on OPD’s handling of the case and said she regrets the harshness of her criticism.

Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith issued a statement on Tuesday in response to Worrell’s initial remarks about the case.

“It is both disappointing and disheartening to see the unfair criticism coming from the State Attorney’s Office regarding the hard work of our detectives pursuing justice for the victims and their families in this case,” Smith said in his statement.

“It is difficult to obtain and maintain witness cooperation in a homicide case. In this case, we had one witness willing to come forward and received zero tips to Crimeline. It is troubling that the State Attorney’s office released active and detailed investigative information that has hindered this ongoing investigation,” Smith said. “At no point did we say this investigation was over.”

Worrell said that her office finally nailed down dates to meet with the other law enforcement agencies for training on “building better cases”: April 13th and 14th.

“Our goal is to work collaboratively with our law enforcement officers for the safety of our community,” she said.

Related Topics:crimes and courts Orlando

Up Next

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and LYNX Highlight LYMMO Lime Line Expansion to Better Serve Seniors

Don't Miss

State Attorney Monique Worrell to Hold a Press Conference Wednesday

Click to comment

Central Florida News

USF Comes Up Short at UTSA as Late Touchdown Seals 31-24 Loss

Published

6 days ago

October 9, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) crosses the goal line on a 15-yard touchdown run to open the scoring against UTSA Thursday night at the Alamodome. Photo by Stephen Galvin / University of South Florida Athletics.

South Florida held an early advantage and reclaimed the lead late, but UTSA’s second-half execution proved to be the difference Thursday night at the Alamodome.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida gave itself a chance to steal a road win Thursday night, but UTSA answered when it mattered most, defeating the Bulls 31-24 at the Alamodome.

USF struck first behind D.J. Crowther, who broke through for a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Bulls an early advantage. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. helped keep South Florida’s offense moving throughout the night as the Bulls continued to respond whenever UTSA threatened to take control.

USF stayed within reach from start to finish, but the second half belonged to a UTSA offense that consistently found a way to finish drives.

UTSA Finds Its Rhythm

Running back A’Marion Peterson became the difference-maker for the Roadrunners, finishing with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA scored on every second-half possession, gradually shifting momentum away from a USF team that continued to battle offensively. The Roadrunners leaned heavily on their ground game while keeping the Bulls from building any sustained separation.

(more…)

Central Florida News

Commissioner Uribe Announces New Date for Hispanic Heritage Festival Due to Weather

Published

6 days ago

October 9, 2026

FNN NEWS

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Commissioner Uribe announced that the Hispanic Heritage Festival has been rescheduled due to weather conditions. The event will now take place Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon at Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave., Orlando.

The festival will celebrate the rich history, cultures, traditions and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities through live music, dance performances, food and community resources.

Scheduled highlights include:

Live music by youth orchestra The Nucleus Orchestral.
Dance performances featuring Maria Saavedra of FusionFest with Huellas de Colombia, Unidos for Ecuador and Mexico Dansa.
Food from Zaza.
Community resources from 311 and other participants.

Join Commissioner Uribe and the community for a morning celebrating Hispanic and Latino heritage.

NEW DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
TIME: 9 a.m. to noon
LOCATION: Cypress Grove Park
ADDRESS: 290 Holden Ave., Orlando, FL 32839

Basketball

UPSHOT Announces Professional Women’s Basketball Franchise for Tampa Bay

Published

1 week ago

October 7, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

Jacksonville Waves battle at the rim against the Charlotte Crown during UPSHOT League action in Jacksonville. Photo by Nisey Spruill/FNN Sports.

New team will debut at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027 as fans help shape the franchise’s identity

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — UPSHOT League officially announced the arrival of professional women’s basketball in Tampa Bay, with the new franchise scheduled to begin play at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027.

UPSHOT Tampa branding unveiled as the league prepares for its inaugural 2027 season in Tampa Bay. Image courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.

Owner Morgan Busby introduced the vision behind bringing elite women’s basketball to the region, while Garland Cooper was announced as team president. UPSHOT Deputy Commissioner Taj McWilliams-Franklin also joined the launch alongside local leaders as the organization emphasized community involvement, fan experience and competitive excellence as core parts of the franchise.

FAN INVOLVEMENT: The Tampa franchise does not yet have an official team name. Fans are being invited to submit ideas and take part in helping shape the team’s identity ahead of its inaugural season. Season-ticket deposits and founding membership opportunities are also available.

UPSHOT Tampa President Garland Cooper speaks with media following the announcement of Tampa Bay’s new professional women’s basketball franchise. Photo courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.

Community outreach began immediately with a “Shoe a Day” initiative supporting young athletes in the Tampa Bay area. During media availability, Cooper also spoke about the importance of giving young girls an opportunity to see what is possible through professional women’s sports.

Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise and Advisory Board Chair Kathleen Shanahan were among the community leaders in attendance, highlighting the potential economic and social impact of adding another professional sports organization to the region.

INAUGURAL SEASON: UPSHOT Tampa is scheduled to tip off at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027, adding professional women’s basketball to an established Tampa Bay sports market that already includes the Buccaneers, Lightning and Rays.

The team name, branding and additional franchise details are expected to be announced as the organization continues building toward its first season.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com