Fla. deputies seeking help with triple ‘massacre’

LAKELAND, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff ’s detectives are asking for the public’s help identifying suspects after three men were “viciously murdered” on their way to fish in a remote area late Friday night.

The three men, who had been friends for years, were fatally beaten and shot, Sheriff Grady Judd said Saturday. A manhunt is underway for the killers and there is a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Describing the “quiet, quaint” community, Judd said the area where the killings happened was “about as far out in the woods as you can get.”

“This is a horrific scene. I have been to a lot of murder scenes in my life and this ranks up with the worst of them. They were viciously murdered.”

Judd identified the victims as Damion Tillman, 23; Keven Springfield, 30; and Brandon Rollins, 27.

What happened?

According to the preliminary investigation, Judd said, it appeared that Tillman arrived first in his red pickup, and that while he was being killed, Rollins and Springfield arrived in a white pickup and were shot.

Just after 10 p.m., Rollins called his dad on his cellphone and asked for help. Judd said the father knew his son was fishing with friends and drove to the site. He found his son barely alive and the two friends dead.

“In Brandon’s father’s excitement to run to help his son, he forgot his cellphone at home. So now he is out in the middle, as you can see, of no place without any communication,” Judd said. The father drove back to a convenience store to call 911. By the time authorities arrived, Rollins had died. Rollins was able to say a few things to his dad, which the sheriff hasn’t revealed.

Police ask for public’s help

Judd said the sheriff ’s office believes there may have been more than one killer. The sheriff said he does not know whether the killers knew the victims but noted that the murders took place “way out in the middle of God’s country.”

“You just don’t stumble upon somebody out here,” Judd said.

Judd said the department is offering $5,000 for information that leads to arrests. “We are seeking leads, we need help so that we can solve this crime sooner rather than later.”