MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Two Florida Memorial University football players are each facing a home invasion robbery charge after police said they, along with two unidentified suspects, violently attacked another student in his dorm room on the Miami Gardens campus on Wednesday night.
Miami Gardens police arrested 21-year-old defensive back Russell Stroud Jr. and 18-year-old linebacker Lelend Johnson ― listed on FMU’s roster as Leeland Johnson and also known as Leland Johnson ― on Thursday.
Arrest reports state that the victim was showering at around 10 p.m. when he heard a knock on his door at Goode Hall. Police said when he opened it, he saw Johnson, of Gainesville, standing at the door “wearing a grey or black hoodie with black gym shorts.”
Authorities said Stroud, of Plant City, and the two unknown suspects then “pushed their way into his room, wearing all black with ski masks.”
Police said Stroud yelled, “Re-up!” and directed the two other suspects to hit the victim.
“The victim advised that he was hit with a black handgun on the head and was punched multiple times by the subjects,“ the reports state. ”The victim stated that (Stroud) then directed the two unknown subjects to take the victim’s burgundy (Sprayground) bookbag, containing school supplies and his high school diploma.”
The reports state that the victim told police that one of the suspects took his cellphone but dropped it while running out.
“The victim alerted campus security, who then called for emergency services,” the reports state. “The victim advised that he does not know why he was targeted.”
The victim was taken to HCA Florida Palm Lakes Emergency outside of Miami Gardens, according to the reports.
Johnson’s arrest report states that he told investigators that he came from Stroud’s neighboring dorm room to meet with someone in the victim’s room and knocked on the door when “multiple individuals came out of nowhere” to commit the robbery.
Stroud ultimately didn’t speak to investigators, according to his arrest report.
In bond court Friday morning, there were questions about Johnson’s role in the alleged attack and whether there was probable cause for the home invasion charge. His attorney, Yolanda Means, argued there was none.
Miami-Dade prosecutor Nessa Eth said she would bring the arresting officer in on Friday afternoon for a probable cause hearing to determine Johnson’s alleged role.
“After speaking with coaches, we’re not sure what’s gonna happen next,” Means said in court, saying that Johnson has a 3.0 grade point average.
Stroud had not yet appeared in bond court as of the publication of this article. Both men were being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Local 10 News has contacted FMU seeking comment and had not yet received a response as of the publication of this article.
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