2 arrested, 1 sought in deadly December shooting outside Sanford Best Buy

2 arrested, 1 sought in deadly shooting outside Best Buy

Police have arrested two suspects and issued a warrant for a third in connection with the December homicide of 21-year-old Terance Darnell Pope Jr., who was killed in a Best Buy parking lot.

SANFORD, Fla. - Police have arrested two suspects and issued a warrant for a third in connection with the December homicide of 21-year-old Terance Darnell Pope Jr., who was killed in a Best Buy parking lot.

Arrests come weeks after shooting outside Best Buy

The backstory:

Terance Darnell Pope was shot in the parking of a Best Buy in Sanford on the evening of Dec. 17, 2024.

Shortly after 8 p.m, officers responded to reports of shots fired near the intersection of Rinehart Road and Garnet Lane.

Upon arrival, officers found Pope with a gunshot wound in the store's parking lot. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died. At the time, investigators were unsure if Pope was a patron at the store who was the victim of a random crime or if it was a targeted attack.

2 in custody, 1 still on the run

What we know:

Sanford Police on Thursday arrested Khalil Hunter, 22, and Shunavious Dorsey, 21, on charges of robbery with a firearm and first-degree felony murder. Investigators have also identified James Nelson, 22, as a suspect and issued an active warrant for his arrest on the same charges.

Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith urged the public to come forward with information.

"The pain that Terance’s family is feeling is a pain that no family should feel. If you know something about the location of this criminal, you need to speak up now," he said.

New details revealed in case

New details released in deadly shooting outside Best Buy in Sanford

The Sanford Police Department released new details regarding a deadly shooting that occurred at a Best Buy parking lot in December 2024.

New details: In a press conference held Friday afternoon, Smith announced several new discoveries in the investigation.

Smith said Pope was not a random victim. Police believe Pope brought money to the scene to purchase electronics from the three suspects, who then robbed and shot him.

Smith also said Nelson was aware of the arrest warrant, was in contact with the investigation team, and agreed to come in and speak with officials, before then disappearing.

Family seeks answers in shooting death of man outside Best Buy

Authorities are still searching for answers in the deadly shooting of a 21-year-old man outside a Best Buy parking lot just a week before Christmas.

What we don't know:

Smith said police still are unsure as to the exact details of the transaction, such as what the transaction was or how it was supposed to occur.

It has not been determined if Pope had a gun with him, officials stated. Smith said there has been no evidence found that Pope engaged in a fight.

Smith also said more than one shot was fired at the time of the incident.

What you can do:

The investigation is ongoing. Authorities encourage anyone with information on the homicide or the suspects’ whereabouts to contact Sanford Police or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS. Tips can remain anonymous, and those leading to arrests in homicide cases may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000.

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