Christopher Leroy Broad Jr was 16 when he died on April 3, 2022, in Belleview, Florida. Police say Broad and a 17-year-old friend, Joshua Vining, were taking turns shooting at each other while wearing a vest containing some form of body armor. Vining shot Broad in the chest; Broad was taken to a local hospital and died shortly after arrival. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death a single gunshot wound to the chest and the manner of death homicide.

Following the investigation, Vining was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm and released on $30,000 bond. A third teenager, Colton Whitler, was charged with providing false information after telling investigators Broad had been shot by someone else; video from another teen’s phone was later recovered and corroborated the sequence of events. Broad’s death prompted shock in the Belleview community given the reckless circumstances.

If anyone knew Christopher, was present that day, or has information about what happened, please share what you know.