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

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

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

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

Police said Miami-Dade police officers and firefighters arrived on the scene and found Keon Smith, 49, who had been shot to death outside the home of his girlfriend, Brittney Grant.

Police said an investigation revealed that on June 2, around 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 his bedroom window, Grant and Rolle exchanged words, and Rolle then found Smith lying on Grant's bed, according to the report.

The report says Rolle then forced his way in through the window and pointed a gun at Smith and ordered him and Grant to leave the apartment.

After a brief exchange outside, police said Grant tried to call 911, but Rolle grabbed his phone and fled the scene.

Police said Grant used his son's phone to call police.

After reviewing additional video surveillance footage, investigators said that on June 3, around 12:40 a.m., Rolle returned to Grant's home in a blue SUV and parked nearby. He entered the apartment complex through a fence and, a short time later, shot Smith, who was standing outside.

Police said seven spent .40-caliber shell 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 silver 2008 Nissan Rogue, which they said matched the vehicle during the home invasion, and a blue Kia Niro, which matched the vehicle during the homicide.

A school district spokesperson confirmed to Local 10 that Smith was the quarterback coach at Miami Norland Senior High School for the past two years.

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

“I didn’t understand why anyone would want to kill themselves because they’re not that type of person,” said Tabetha Dudley, Smith’s cousin. “He’s a good father, a good coach and a good husband. He is well-liked in the community and everywhere he goes.

Last week, school district officials observed a moment of silence in Smith's honor during a graduation ceremony for Miami Norland's senior class.

As of Tuesday, Rolle has been held without bail at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

The motive for the shooting remains unclear at this time.

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