Four teenagers in Florida were tragically killed after engaging in a high-speed chase with the police in a stolen vehicle. On April 20, a group of males aged 14-17 were spotted in an SUV that had been reported stolen earlier that day. The Bradford County sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull them over, but the driver accelerated to speeds of 111 mph, initiating a pursuit. The chase eventually led to the use of the precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver by state troopers, causing the vehicle to roll over and crash into a cement pole in the Waldo area.
Unfortunately, two out of the four teens did not survive the impact and passed away from their injuries at the hospital. It took emergency crews over an hour and a half to remove all of the victims from the wreckage. Reports indicated that some of the occupants in the vehicle were wearing ski masks, and authorities discovered that two of the boys had active warrants and were wearing ankle tracking devices.
The teens were later identified as students from Newberry High School, and the school community mourned the loss of Jabril Cheevers and Lawrence McClendon Jr. Their families were devastated by the tragic accident, with Lawrence’s mother organizing a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs. She also shared the heartbreaking news that her older son had been killed in a separate incident just a month prior.
The community came together to support the grieving families, as they navigated the loss of their beloved sons.
