Police say the 14-year-old, Hunter Russey, died days after he was found injured, and the suspect now faces a second-degree murder charge.
WEST MELBOURNE, FL - October 19, 2026
Hunter Russey, a 14-year-old, was discovered beside Cocoanut Grove Avenue on Oct. 13, and police report that he later died. The West Melbourne Police Department says the man accused in the case, Kavan Vishnubhai Patel, has been rearrested on second-degree murder charges.
Key Facts
- Date: Oct. 13 (early morning, according to police reports)
- Location: Cocoanut Grove Avenue, West Melbourne, Brevard County, Florida
- Type of crash: Alleged hit-and-run involving a car, according to police
- Vehicles involved: One car
- Injuries / fatalities: Multiple injuries reported; one fatality
- Responding agencies: West Melbourne Police Department
- Reported by: ClickOrlando (clickorlando.com)
Crash Overview
Police said Patel reported a burglary at his business early on the morning of Oct. 13. Investigators say Patel told officers he saw a teen break in, but he did not initially tell them that he had chased the teen for roughly half a mile before striking him with his car. After the impact, officers say, Patel drove away and left the teen lying at the scene.
The teen was later located and brought to Holmes Regional Medical Center under a trauma alert. He was then moved to Orlando Health Children's Arnold Palmer Hospital, police reported, and stayed on life support there. Police say he was taken off life support on a Saturday night despite round-the-clock medical care.
Patel was initially charged with aggravated battery and leaving the scene of a crash. At his first court hearing, the judge described the allegations as disturbing. Police say Patel has since been rearrested on second-degree murder charges, and he is being held in the Brevard County Jail without bond.