DailyKenn.com | AbateHate.com | New Facebook Group
COCOA, Fla. (DailyKenn.com) — A 13-year-old boy faces manslaughter charges after authorities say he fatally shot a 30-year-old man in a residential Cocoa neighborhood, marking the latest gun violence tragedy in Brevard County this year.
Kelby Gavin Miller, a Port St. John resident known among family for his gentle demeanor and willingness to lend a hand, was gunned down on Nov. 16 in what police described as a sudden and inexplicable act. The incident unfolded just before 10:30 p.m. off Bristol Drive, a tree-lined street of modest single-family homes where children often play and neighbors exchange waves.
According to the Cocoa Police Department's arrest report, Miller had pulled his vehicle into the dimly lit area when a slim figure clad in a dark hoodie approached from the shadows. Surveillance footage from a nearby home captured the chilling sequence: the youth walked directly toward Miller's car, raised his arm and fired a single shot through the open window, striking Miller in the torso. The gunman then fled on foot, disappearing into the night as Miller slumped over the wheel.
Bleeding heavily, Miller managed to dial 911 himself at 10:28 p.m., his voice strained but coherent as he reported the attack. Responding officers arrived within minutes to find him conscious but in critical condition beside his vehicle. They rendered immediate aid before paramedics airlifted him to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. There, as family members gathered in the waiting room, clasping hands and murmuring prayers, Miller succumbed to his injuries around midnight. The medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide caused by the gunshot wound.
The investigation moved swiftly. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood, reviewing hours of grainy video that showed the suspect's distinctive gait and clothing. Tips from residents pointed to a home blocks away, where they confronted Emeril Tytron Rachel, the 13-year-old resident. Rachel's mother, viewing stills from the footage, acknowledged the resemblance to her son. A search of his bedroom uncovered a hoodie stained with blood and dirt, matching fibers from the scene. Gunpowder residue tests on Rachel's hands came back positive, despite his denials of handling a firearm.
Rachel was arrested the following day and charged with manslaughter and possession and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was remanded to juvenile detention without bond, where he later admitted to detectives that he recognized himself in the surveillance images. Authorities have not recovered the weapon and are probing how the teen obtained it, as well as any prior connection to Miller — details that remain unclear. The Brevard County State Attorney's Office will decide whether to pursue adult charges.
The shooting has reverberated through the close-knit community, where Miller was remembered as a devoted grandson who visited his 87-year-old grandmother, Elvie Miller, weekly to tidy her yard, wash her car and, just days before his death, assemble her Christmas tree. "He was just a loving person," Elvie Miller said, her voice breaking. "He would stay with me once a week to help around the house, to clean the carport or the yard. He had just put up my Christmas tree — it's just so sad." Friends and relatives have flooded the family with calls of support, while neighbors expressed shock at the violence invading their serene enclave.
This marks the 21st homicide in Brevard County in 2025, prompting local leaders to renew calls for youth intervention programs and stricter gun storage laws. As the investigation continues, Rachel's case underscores the profound ripple effects of a split-second decision in an otherwise peaceful corner of Florida's Space Coast.
Boy, 13, faces manslaughter charge in fatal shooting of man in Cocoa
13-year-old accused of manslaughter in shooting of Port St John Man
13-year-old charged with manslaughter after deadly shooting in Central Florida
13-year-old accused of manslaughter in Cocoa neighborhood, police say
Your $8 monthly partner pledge helps us reach others & more ►
Find archived black-on-white homicide news reports here ►
200 latest news reports from 100 top conservative websites