FSU’s Ethan Pritchard shooting case update (AP Photos)
Authorities in Florida have arrested four individuals in connection with the shooting of Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard, a rising player whose football journey was abruptly interrupted by a senseless act of violence.
The incident, which occurred in Havana, Florida, late on August 30, left Pritchard hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Officials now believe the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.
Ethan Pritchard shooting : four suspects charged
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Wednesday that Jayden Bodison, Caron Miller, Germany Atkins, and an unnamed minor were taken into custody. Bodison, Miller, and the minor face three counts of attempted murder along with one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Atkins has been charged separately with a probation violation.
Investigators said Pritchard had been dropping off relatives, including a child and an aunt, when gunfire struck his car. One bullet hit him in the back of the head, forcing emergency responders to rush him to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Sheriff Morris Young confirmed authorities are treating the case as a tragic case of mistaken identity.The timing of the shooting only magnified the heartbreak. It happened just one day after Florida State opened its season with a win over Alabama.
Pritchard, a three-star recruit from the 2025 class, did not play in that game, but he was expected to play a role in the Seminoles’ defense this season.
Ethan Pritchard’s spirit honored by coach
While Pritchard fights to recover, his teammates and coaches continue to keep his spirit alive. During Florida State’s dominant victory over Texas A&M-Commerce, players wore wristbands with his number, 35, and his jersey was carried out for the coin toss. Head coach Mike Norvell presented the game ball to Pritchard’s father, Earl, following the win.Norvell grew visibly emotional when asked about Pritchard. “Ethan is one of my favorites,” he said. “I recruited him for years and got a chance to watch him grow. When he committed to Florida State, the way that he plays the game, his passion and energy—he loves it.”For now, Florida State rallies around Pritchard as law enforcement pushes forward in building its case. With arrests made, the focus shifts to ensuring justice, while the football community waits and hopes for Pritchard’s full recovery.Also Read: Harrison Butker breaks silence with touching message remembering Charlie Kirk after tragic assassination stuns America