Police ID suspect accused of fatally shooting beloved South Florida football coach

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Police have identified a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a football coach in South Florida.

According to an arrest warrant, Lance Brian Rolle, 39, of Margate, is facing one count each of second-degree murder, robbery/ home invasion with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm.

According to Opa-locka police, the shooting was reported around 12:50 a.m. on June 3 at the Mary Alice Brown apartment complex in the 2800 block of Northwest 132nd Street.

Police said officers and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel arrived at the scene and found 49-year-old Keon Smith, who had been shot dead outside his girlfriend, Brittney Grant’s home.

Police said an investigation revealed that on June 2, at approximately 11:03 p.m., Smith was visiting Grant when Rolle, her ex-boyfriend, arrived uninvited in a silver Nissan Rogue SUV.

After knocking on the outside of her bedroom window, Grant and Rolle exchanged words, at which time Rolle found Smith lying on Grant’s bed, according to the report.

The report states Rolle then forcibly entered through the window and pointed a gun at Smith and ordered him and Grant to leave the apartment.

Following a brief exchange outside, police said Grant attempted to call 911, but Rolle snatched her phone and fled the scene.

Police said Grant used her son’s phone to call the police.

After reviewing additional CCTV footage, investigators said that on June 3, at approximately 12:40 a.m., Rolle drove back to Grant’s home in a blue SUV and parked nearby. He entered the apartment complex through a fence, and shortly thereafter, shot Smith, who was standing outside.

Police said seven .40 caliber spent casings were recovered at the scene and confirmed Rolle fled in the blue SUV before police arrived.

Investigators said Rolle’s girlfriend owned two vehicles: a 2008 Silver Nissan Rogue, which they said matched the vehicle in the home invasion, and a Blue Kia Niro, which matched the vehicle in the homicide.

A spokesman for the school district confirmed to Local 10 that Smith was the quarterback coach at Miami Norland Senior High School for the last couple of years.

Local 10 News reporter Roy Ramos spoke with the coach’s family last week, who said they are devastated by his death.

“I couldn’t understand why someone would want to take his life because he is not that type of person,” said Smith’s cousin Tabetha Dudley. “He is a good father, good coach, and a good husband. He is well-liked in the community and everywhere he goes.”

Last week, school district officials held a moment of silence for Smith at a graduation ceremony for the Miami Norland senior class.

As of Tuesday, Rolle is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

A motive for the shooting remains unclear at this time.

Anyone with additional information on the case is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.