Two teens convicted of murder in Sanford headphone-sale ambush
A Seminole County jury convicted William Smith and Dra'shawn Williams of felony murder and attempted armed robbery in Brandon Leo's 2024 killing.
- Development
- 6 November 2026
- Coverage
- Verdict
- Current status
- Verdict returned
- Source record
- 3 verified sources
Jury returns guilty verdicts
A Seminole County jury convicted William O. Smith and Dra'shawn D. Williams on November 6 of first-degree felony murder and attempted robbery with a firearm in the killing of 22-year-old Brandon Leo. The verdicts followed a five-day trial in Sanford, Florida.
Smith, 19, and Williams, 17, were prosecuted as adults. The State Attorney's Office for Florida's 18th Judicial Circuit said both face possible life sentences. Because they were younger than 18 when the crime occurred, Florida law provides for sentence review after 25 years. Their sentencing hearing was scheduled for November 13. [1] [2] [3]
Online listing led Leo to a vacant house
Leo listed used Beats headphones for sale through OfferUp in July 2024. Prosecutors said the defendants arranged a meeting and directed him from Orlando to a vacant home in Sanford. The state alleged that the location was selected for an armed robbery rather than a genuine purchase.
Leo arrived in a pickup truck with the headphones. When the attempted robbery began, he tried to reverse away from the property. He was shot, and the truck continued into a nearby retention pond. Responders later found him dead inside the vehicle. [1] [2] [3]
Video and digital records supported the prosecution
Neighborhood security video captured the shooting, according to the State Attorney's Office. Investigators also examined Leo's phone, the defendants' devices and the online accounts used to arrange the sale. Police recovered seven cartridge cases and the headphones outside the vacant home.
Prosecutors used that evidence to place Smith and Williams at the planned meeting and to show that the homicide occurred during an attempted armed robbery. Under Florida's felony-murder rule, the state did not have to prove that each defendant fired the fatal shot if both participated in the underlying dangerous felony. [1] [2] [3]
Both defendants were minors at the time
Smith was 17 and Williams was 15 when Leo was killed. Prosecutors nevertheless charged them in adult court because of the seriousness of the offenses. Their ages remain relevant to sentencing and the statutory review process, even after the adult convictions. The review provision reflects constitutional limits on irrevocable juvenile life sentences.
The available reports did not provide a detailed account of each defense argument. The guilty verdicts establish criminal responsibility at trial, but the defendants retain the right to challenge legal rulings and the sufficiency of the evidence through post-trial motions and appeals. [1] [2] [3]
Sentencing remains the next step
The trial court must impose separate sentences for felony murder and attempted armed robbery. Prosecutors said both defendants face life imprisonment, while the juvenile-sentencing framework requires later review rather than guaranteeing release. The judge must enter the written judgments after considering the statutory ranges.
Victim-impact statements and defense mitigation may be presented before judgment. The final sentence, any consecutive or concurrent terms and the schedule for review should be confirmed from the November 13 hearing or subsequent court records rather than inferred from the verdict alone. [1] [2] [3]
Sources & further reading
- Two teens convicted of murder in ambush for headphones in Sanford ↗Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit · 2026-11-07 · Primary source
- Teens found guilty of murder and robbery in Sanford headphone seller case ↗WFTV · 2026-11-07
- Teens face life in prison after killing man selling his headphones in Sanford ↗ClickOrlando · 2026-11-06
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