Jay Man Accused Of Killing Brewton Teen Is Released On Bond

May 24, 2010

The man accused in the February shooting death of an 18-year old Brewton man in the Berrydale community has been released on bond.

boydrobertfranklin.jpgRobert Franklin Floyd, 21, was released from the Santa Rosa County Jail on $100,000 bond. Floyd had been held without bond since February on a charge of second degree murder with a firearm,  three counts of attempted first degree murder with a firearm, and one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling.

Late last week, a Santa Rosa County Circuit Court judge approved a request from Floyd’s attorney to allow him to be freed on bond.

Floyd was arrested after an incident that occurred shortly after midnight February 27 at Floyd’s home on Country Mill Road.  A party was being held at Floyd’s residence in which numerous subjects were in attendance, according to Sgt. Scott Haines, spokesperson for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.

During the bonfire party, a vehicle occupied by four people from Brewton arrived Floyd’s home on Country Mill Road.

The four people, including 18-year old Getyron Lopez Benjamin, exited the vehicle and got into a verbal altercation with Floyd, according to a statement released by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office the day following the incident.

“Floyd stated that the subjects were there uninvited. Floyd requested that the subjects leave the premises, and words were exchanged between Floyd and the subjects from Brewton. The subjects refused to leave, at which time Floyd allegedly pushed one of the…males and told them once again to leave,”  according to Sgt. Scott Haines, spokesperson for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Floyd told Santa Rosa deputies that the male subject he pushed pulled out a handgun. Floyd he said he retrieved a rifle from his truck, and then he heard gunshots in the direction of the vehicle from Brewton. He also alleged  that he saw a muzzle flash coming from their direction.

“Floyd then fired multiple shots from his rifle towards the direction of the vehicle as it was leaving. The vehicle left the scene and Floyd returned the rifle to his truck. After a short time, Floyd decided to contact the Sheriff’s Office to make them aware of the situation. When deputies arrived, they spoke with Floyd and gained the above mentioned information. Numerous rifle shell casings were located at the scene,” Haines said.

Benjamin was shot as the vehicle fled the scene. He was driven to D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton where he was pronounced dead.

“The other occupants of the vehicle were interviewed and stated that they did not observe any of their vehicle’s occupants produce a firearm. No firearm has been located as of the time of this release. It is also not known if Benjamin was the subject that Floyd said had alleged brandished the handgun,” Haines said the day after the shooting.

Comments

48 Responses to “Jay Man Accused Of Killing Brewton Teen Is Released On Bond”

  1. disgusted on February 26th, 2011 1:27 am

    i know I’m late in all this, but honestly what has the world come to? I’m seriously disgusted with Jay…don’t care what anyone has to say either, it’s my opinion. I’m going to have to question the system if this dude does not end up in jail for the rest of his miserable life. I got mad love for gus & my prayers go out to his family, they always have. </33

  2. WHAT IF IT WERE YOU! on May 27th, 2010 11:31 am

    Everyone, here is a task put ur self in these young mans positions, Knowing 2 wrongs never make a Right this aint about who did what its about tha outcome not only The berrydale man has 2 live knowing his UNintented actions took a life 4 anyone that would be PURE HELL & PEOPLE saying it is NOT OVER, havent You witnessed enough heartache REVENGE IS NoT AN ANSWER! Any death is hard to deal with but if we took reupenge on every personthen WE WOULDNT BE LAND OF THE FREE WE WULD ALWAYS BE AT WAR! THIS IS GODs WORLD HE IS THE ONE WE WILL ONE DAY ANSWER TOO HE IS IN CONTROL!

  3. DJ on May 27th, 2010 9:56 am

    FURTHERMORE………THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN “BERRYDALE” NOT “JAY!”
    Tell me one thing….why didn’t they go to Jay Hospital instead of Brewton? (Which was approx. 5 miles from where it all happened) Why did they past an ambulance on the way to Brewton instead of stopping and asking for help? Maybe because they knew they were seeking trouble to begin with?

    All I know is that Robbie may have shot into the car and one of the bullets hit Benjamin, but that doesn’t mean he meant to kill anyone. If the others would’ve taken him to Jay Hospital or stopped the ambulance they pasted, life flight could’ve have been called and the chance of saving Benjamin’s life. That will be something none of us will ever know now.

    ROBBIE FLOYD WE SUPPORT YOU 200%……..

  4. note on May 26th, 2010 5:42 pm

    in my opinion of all this……..if you are asked to leave a party one time you should just do it. not stick around. its stupid and asking for trouble.

  5. Jay resident on May 26th, 2010 5:38 pm

    So glad to see he is out!Hope they get the WHOLE truth about what happened that night and Robbie is able to put this behind him.Of course I’m sure someone is going to attack me for being happy for him,but there was so much more to that night than what everyone knows.The boys from Brewton were there to start trouble,they had already caused trouble before.Sorry someone died hate it for his parents ,but the boys knew they were there to start a fight.

  6. David Huie Green on May 26th, 2010 12:27 pm

    Can you REALLY overanalyze?

    Let me analyze the question and get back to you . . . .

  7. NOTE on May 26th, 2010 10:32 am

    DHG, you really got all that out of my facetious comment? Much too over- analyzed–even for you. I do get an occasional chuckle from your comments,
    however, so keep them coming. By the way, I am in favor of griping, also. Even do it myself from time to time. :)

  8. Forever Gus' cousin!!! on May 25th, 2010 11:48 pm

    I’M NOT SURE THE OTHER COMMENT POSTED: BUT IT BASICALLY SAID: @ DJ– NO, I WASN’T THERE AND HOW DOES IT EVEN SOUND LIKE I WAS??? I’VE ONLY STATED WHAT WAS HAS BEEN A KNOWN FACT SINCE DAY ONE— “THEY WERE INVITED, JUST NOT BY THE PERSON GIVIING THE PARTY”– THAT WAS IN THE PAPER. EVERYTHING ELSE I HAD TO SAY WERE ONLY OPINIONS JUST LIKE WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY…. I’M GROWN AND I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN TO BE @ A PARTY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE…. I HATE THIS HAPPENED FOR BOTH SIDES, I JUST THINK SELF-DEFENSE SHOULDN’T BE AN OPTION….. WHETHER HE MEANT TO DO IT OR NOT— IT WAS DONE AND YOU CAN’T GO BACK IN TIME AND CHANGE IT……. THIS IS MY LAST COMMENT, FOR IT IS WORTHLESS WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY, THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL ISN’T IN MY HANDS—IT’S IN GOD’S HANDS AND WE’LL JUST HAVE TO SIT BACK AND SEE WHAT THE VERDIT WILL BE…..

  9. David Huie Green on May 25th, 2010 6:44 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Many of you missed your calling. You should be practicing law!!”

    All laws should be written in such a manner that any normal person reading them will understand them and know what to do, what to not do, what the penalty is for failure to comply.

    Writing laws such that only a lawyer can make sense of them sounds like something intended as a jobs program for lawyers.

    They should also be few enough that it would be possible to know them all. Such is not the case.

    Of course, most people here are not pretending to practice law.

    They are simply saying what they think about assorted situations as they are presented to them. Critical details may be left out or the truth may not be muddy enough to cast doubt, but this isn’t a court of law anyway and no harm done other than hurt feelings.

    David for the gripers

  10. Robbie's friend on May 25th, 2010 6:19 pm

    People, you are innocent until proven guilty. None of you are attorney’s so you don’t know what has to be done with the whole court side of this. It was the right thing for the Judge to do giving him a bond and letting him be back with all his family and friends. I wasn’t there but I do know that Robbie didn’t mean for any of this to Happen. Robbie is a great guy (known his for 8yrs now) and wouldn’t just do something like this for nothing. They should have just left when they were asked to leave, and the person who brought them should not have brought them in the first place.

    Robbie we are all behind you 100%! We love you Robbie

  11. Lena on May 25th, 2010 4:40 pm

    Of course Erin. Teens want admit to shooting their gun firtst thats why the accused is guilty sweetie.

  12. David Huie Green on May 25th, 2010 2:40 pm

    REGARDING:
    “DAVID HUIE GREEN OR TO ANYBODY ELSE FOR THAT MATTER:

    Unless you have seen all the facts and/or have been in court since the beginning you have no right to judge anyone. ”

    Gripe, gripe, gripe.

    Here I sit, the most nonjudgmental person alive, and am being attacked for saying people shouldn’t shoot people unless they are prepared to kill them and or anyone around them.

    I didn’t say whether or not that would ever be a good thing and how it applied here, just making an observation.

    David being judged

  13. NOTE on May 25th, 2010 2:03 pm

    Wow!! Many of you missed your calling. You should be practicing law!!

  14. just me on May 25th, 2010 10:59 am

    TY:
    This is ridiculous my 1st cousin did not ask for any of this..and then they let that Robbie out on bail.it makes me sick not Robbie will get what’s comin to him!!!!!!!!!and tell him I said it!!!!!!and trust me its not OVER!!

    That sounds like a threat……Were you there on the night of the incident? How do you know what your cousin “asked for” on the night in question if you were not there? Bail is a constitutional right. They could not justify NO bail. There is not enough evidence to support no bail. The judge is doing his job. Mr. Floyd has not been convicted of any crime, he has only been charged. But, however, if you continue to threaten people that could be considered as a threat. An individual’s constitutional rights cannot be taken away until/unless they are a convicted felon. It is a shame that anyone lost their life. If your cousin were here he could explain how the justice system works, because from the looks of his criminal record he was very familiar with it.

  15. whitepunknotondope on May 25th, 2010 9:31 am

    “regardless of guns, if this guy shot them while they were driving away, leaving the scene, then he is out of luck”

    Read this statement people, he is absolutely correct.
    Mr. Floyd is going to prison.

  16. just tired on May 25th, 2010 9:26 am

    I’m not judging anyone, I did not say anything about whether Mr. Floyd is guilty or not, because I do not know. My point is that God knows the truth of what happened and HE will judge accordingly. The quote from the Bible is true in all situations, not just this incident.

  17. EJ on May 25th, 2010 9:23 am

    Robbie Floyd I stand beside you 250% It will all work out keep you head high. These not so bright people on here are just showing what they are. You have not been found guilty on any charges so let them run off at the mouth I guess thats all they can do.

  18. just me on May 25th, 2010 9:16 am

    INNOCENT UNTIL GUILTY. It is a shame that some of you posting comments on here seem to have already CONVICTED Mr. Floyd. Judge not lest ye be judged. Let the one of you without sin cast the first stone. IF YOU LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES DON’T THROW STONES. Let the legal system do what it is designed to do.

  19. just tired on May 25th, 2010 9:10 am

    It’s true, this is a sad situation, but we all should just let God be the judge in this and all things, because the Bible states that “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. In other words the things we do always seem to have a way of coming back to us, whether they are good or bad.

  20. DJ on May 25th, 2010 8:42 am

    DAVID HUIE GREEN OR TO ANYBODY ELSE FOR THAT MATTER:

    Unless you have seen all the facts and/or have been in court since the beginning you have no right to judge anyone. Think about what you would have done in that situation. Some people would have done differently and most would have done the same thing as Robbie, just as myself would have done the same thing. You DO NOT come to where you are not invited on PRIVATE PROPERTY. If anyone needs to judge anyone, maybe you need to look at the person who took them to the party. I support Robbie Floyd 110% and will until the end. I love you Robbie and family!

  21. DJ on May 25th, 2010 8:35 am

    FOREVER GUS (or should I say Bates?)………WERE YOU THERE (sounds like you possibly were)? Maybe you should talk to Law Enforcement, unless you have something to hide…… Furthermore, Mr. Floyd has NEVER been in any type of legal trouble before. It IS his constitutional right to receive a bond. It does sound like you are familiar with the legal system (DRUGS/BOND), do you feel that your bond was excessive? HAVE YOU BEEN IN COURT EACH TIME AND AT THE BOND HEARING? NO YOU WEREN’T! I am sorry that you lost Gus, but he and the OTHER 3 were NOT invited to the party by the person that was throwing the party, and they were asked to leave. When you show up at someone’s home and they do not want you there they do have th right to ask you to leave, regardless of their reason(s). I would do the same if it was my property and under the same circumstances……….ROBBIE FLOYD I SUPPORT YOU 200% and there will be many of us that will always be with you during this time.

  22. Chumuckla Proud on May 25th, 2010 7:37 am

    Alcohol, guns, and stupidity do not mix.

  23. D on May 25th, 2010 6:57 am

    My thoughts and prayers are with both families. Each of them lost a loved one in different ways. Neither family will ever be the same. They had no involvement in this incident. God bless all of you. I hope you find the strength and fortitude to carry on in your daily lives.

  24. Forever Gus' cousin!!! on May 25th, 2010 2:27 am

    Y’all keep saying that they wasn’t invited- who would go way out there to a party unless they were— that’s stupid… You’re missing the whole point— they were invited by someone just not by the person who was giving the party…. @ Erin…. who’s an idiot??????? Everyone keep saying it was self-defense because they were on his property… Who cares????? This was not self-defense and for anyone to say he shot at them to scare them away is STUPID… They were leaving, so how is that self-defense?????? My cousin life ended because of an IDIOT shooting at him, and i hope he spend the rest of his life in jail for what he did….. LIKE I SAID BEFORE “THEY WERE LEAVING!!!! there’s nothing else that need to be said…. I think that the BOND issue is WILD, i mean come on now— we know he’s the shooter and he gets a bond for $100, 000- that’s less than some people who are jailed for DRUGS– that’s awful and very sicking to my stomach….. there’s no way that his life will ever be the same, for he’ll have to deal with the fact that he took someone’s life for the rest of his….. Who know’s he might not even care….. Last, but not least, if the situation was reversed and it was Gus who had shot and killed him, GUS would still be in jail…. It’s all in GOD’s hand, and NO i don’t feel sorry for Robbie, for i’m not that forgiving, for when he shot at them he was intending to shoot someone… GUS YOU ARE FOREVER IN MY HEART AND NO- ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY!!!!!!!

  25. Gun safety is paramount on May 25th, 2010 1:00 am

    I am thinking drinking and typing should not be done together either David!

  26. David Huie Green on May 24th, 2010 11:48 pm

    “First off let me start by explaining physics to you. The old saying about “what goes up, must come down” is true. Many innocent people have been killed or injured by this type of ignorant behavior.”

    True, but at least acknowledge air resistance means what comes down does so with much less energy than what went up. It might still kill you, or not, but will do so with less impact than if pointed directly.

    One other point, Never shoot at anyone you are not prepared to kill. “I just meant to wound him,” don’t get it. The foreseeable result of shooting someone is his or her death. Do not shoot unless you are willing to kill.

    And as was said elsewhere in other form: You might miss and kill people in front, beside or behind your target. Do not shoot unless you do not mind killing them instead or too.

    Consider this instance: I don’t know if he intended to kill and if so, who he intended to kill. He could have killed any or all of them or even just people behind them he did not see or people between him and them.

    Of course, if you don’t care, nothing I or anyone else says matters.

    David thinking drinking and shooting should not be done at the same time

  27. Gun safety is paramount on May 24th, 2010 10:45 pm

    To the comments concerning shooting in the air to scare someone away.

    First off let me start by explaining physics to you. The old saying about “what goes up, must come down” is true. Many innocent people have been killed or injured by this type of ignorant behavior. In addition, it is also against the law. Please stop spreading your ignorance; others of equal or lesser intelligence may actually believe you.

    Secondly, a few gun safety tips you are apparently unaware of:

    A. NEVER fire a weapon until you have positively identified your target.
    B. NEVER fire a weapon until you have positively identified the back-drop behind your target.
    C. Never point your weapon at anything or anyone you do not intend to shoot..
    D. Know that when you pull that trigger, the loss of life is likely.
    E. Be prepared to pay the consequences if you choose to use your weapon in a negligent manner.

  28. Santa Rosa Girl on May 24th, 2010 9:34 pm

    I am from santa rosa county and I am a good person, but let me tell you something, I knew Gus and what happened to him was WRONG… It is funny how it is said that the other car shot at him first. Well, if thats the case, How come there was no gun residue on there hands???? Why could Robbie not have just fired shots in the air. He shot into that car not knowing who he was shooting at… NEWS FLASH…….THAT IS NOT SELF DEFENSE. THAT IS PURE STUPIDITY. A young man who was trying to make it in the world lost his life because of an idiot…. I hope the court finds him guilty and he gets what he deserves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  29. John on May 24th, 2010 8:13 pm

    To answer a couple of questions…

    Shooting to “scare someone away” is NOT self-defense.

    If someone comes on your property and refuses to leave, they are guilty of trespassing.

  30. Parentwithabrain on May 24th, 2010 8:06 pm

    No handgun has been found. Probably never was one. This whole incident was just about a dumb and dumb can get. As stated earlier, you want to scare someone off (especially when they are already leaving) shoot into the air. But to fire into a car full of people is intent to do harm. This is not the Wild West. People need to get a grip, get a clue and grow up!

  31. concerned on May 24th, 2010 6:13 pm

    Some of the comments left on here are pure ignorant as well as the people that left them. A young man lost his life over ignorance and stupidity. I know of one individual that allegedly shot into a moving vehicle and is now serving a 20yr. sentence in the State Of Florida and he didn’t kill anyone. So my opinion is what’s good for one should be good for all. A person lost their life in this incident that occured back in February. Regardless whether he was invited or not it was senseless for anyone to die.

  32. wonder on May 24th, 2010 6:11 pm

    What does the law state about someone coming on your land and you ask them to leave and they do not ? What kind of law are they breaking if they do not leave? Can a person be jailed for this?

  33. out of step on May 24th, 2010 5:18 pm

    I really feel bad for both families. There are not any winner’s here. You can talk and talk about what BOTH YOUNG MEN DID WRONG. POOR JUDGEMENT ALL THE WAY AROUND. I HEAR AND HAVE HEARD, “IF I HAD OF BEEN THERE”. JUDGE NOT LESS YOU BE JUDGE. I HOPE THIS TEACHES OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NOT TO GO WHERE TROUBLE IS. IN OTHER WORDS, LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. STAY AROUND THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW. TAKE A FEW SECOND THOUGHS BEFORE REACTING. AND THE NUMBER 911, WHY FIGHT WHEN WE ARE ALREADY PAYING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO THAT FOR US. NOTHING CAN OR WILL BE GAINED FROM BEING THE ONE THAT GOING TO “HANDLE IT”
    I HOPE THE FAMILIES STEP IN AND HANDLE THIS WITH DIGNITY. REALALIZE BOTH WERE WRONNG. AND MOST OF ALL PRAY,PRAY, PRAY THAT SOMETHING GOOD WILL COME OF THIS.

  34. ty on May 24th, 2010 4:48 pm

    This is ridiculous my 1st cousin did not ask for any of this..and then they let that Robbie out on bail.it makes me sick not Robbie will get what’s comin to him!!!!!!!!!and tell him I said it!!!!!!and trust me its not OVER!!

  35. Mr. Potatoe Head on May 24th, 2010 2:17 pm

    If you shoot to scare someone, you don’t shoot at them or a vehicle, you shoot in the air. The vehicle was leaving, enough said and enough blame for everyone, including the ones that was watching.

  36. Jim on May 24th, 2010 1:40 pm

    Once again kids shooting kids over little things. Unless there is more there than has been told. Which I am highly suspect of at this point. Because even kids don’t just shoot other kids for showing up at a party they were not invited to. It’s a sad stae of affairs for all involved.

  37. Erin on May 24th, 2010 11:08 am

    He wasn’t trying to kill anyone. He shot to scare the idiots off HIS property, because they were shooting. 1.) They are a bunch of kids, they’ll NEVER admit to shooting first. 2.) Someone got killed, and if they admit they had a gun then they had some part in his death. 3.) They more than likely threw the gun out the window sometime after they realized their friend was dead, if not before.

  38. Flomaton Mom on May 24th, 2010 11:07 am

    We’re behind you Robby…..110%

  39. brooklynite on May 24th, 2010 11:05 am

    isnt it against the law for someone with a murder charge to be offered a bail.
    is this the USA or some third world country?

  40. huh on May 24th, 2010 10:40 am

    regardless of guns, if this guy shot them while they were driving away, leaving the scene, then he is out of luck

  41. Big B little ill on May 24th, 2010 10:22 am

    Unless you were there that night, you only have what has been told in the news paper and northescambia.com as well as a few other news outlets. All this was beat to death when it happened. Just let it be worked out in court.

  42. nudo on May 24th, 2010 9:57 am

    Yeah Rex is clueless. I’m all bout protecting and shooting I need be. But you can’t shoot into a vehicle with other innocent people and call that protecting his property.

  43. z on May 24th, 2010 8:20 am

    what if they were shooting out of the car as they were leaving,maybe thats why he shot back.dont come on my property uninvited and fire a round off.

  44. The Real Florida on May 24th, 2010 7:47 am

    Rex… you are completely bananas. Stand your ground law only protects people who fear for their life, not people shooting blindly into the back of vehicles as they are leaving the scene. This has been evoked a few times already this year..i.e. the fellows who chased and shot at the suspected burglars who turned out to be PNJ delivery. No way this cat gets off on “stand your ground”, no way. And it would be justified to send him to jail for a large number of years. Who wants another yahoo who gets drunk and acts like he is Paul Bunyun on the streets, not me. How are you going to go get your rifle after they go to leave…..weak, real weak. Since there was no weapon found on or with the victim, it is a sure bet that he won’t be able to claim “self defense.” It would be a travesty to have this good ol’boy get off, even a plea deal of involuntary manslaughter would be to light. They should make an example of this guy. I hope the jury shows that you must have restraint, and that “Stand your ground” doesn’t cover yahoos that start things and then pulls out their gun out after they have been punked out. “Oh I’m a man, let me get my gun and show you how much of a man I am.” What ever this guy gets is not enough.

  45. Robert on May 24th, 2010 7:45 am

    If there are any witnesses to the people in the car firing first I hope they are taken seriously. This whole incident is very unfortunate and I do feel for the family of the person who was killed but if they came onto his property univited and pulled and or shot a gun what was Floyd supposed to do? Duck? I hope justice prevails in this case but we all know how tricky that can be.

  46. aam on May 24th, 2010 7:43 am

    The only thing I keep thinking about is that a young man lost his life over stupidity. I’m not saying who’s at fault because I wasn’t there but is it really worth it?

  47. Rex on May 24th, 2010 6:34 am

    Lets hope the GOOD people of Santa Rosa county do the right thing and find Robert Floyd NOT GUILTY ..
    It’ll be a crying shame when a man can’t protect whats his on his own property.
    Hopefully Fla. self defense law will prevail.

  48. N>H>F> on May 24th, 2010 6:16 am

    I may be up here in North Carolina but I have been keeping up with you.. May God Bless , Your EX Boss Chicken Farmer