2 Arrested in Hillsborough County for December Deltona Murder

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office has announced two arrests have been made in connection to the murder of another teenager last December in Deltona. 19-year-old Brian Reardon and 15-year-old Kobe James Bedat are charged with third degree murder. The incident in question took place on Christmas last year. Brenden Watkins, himself only 17 years old, was shot and killed in Deltona. The VSO says that Watkins knew Reardon and Bedat from an online gaming community, and that the two of them traveled from Tampa in order to trade firearms. The AR-style rifle which Reardon and Bedat are said to have brought was reported stolen. At the scene of the exchange, Watkins reportedly attempted to rob the two suspects. At this point, Bedat is said to have shot Watkins. In their initial announcement of the shooting, the VSO said the incident took place at the 2000 block of El Campo Avenue in Deltona. Watkins was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds. One other teenager, said to be 17 years old, was reportedly with Watkins at the time of the shooting. The VSO says he discarded a rifle in a neighbor’s yard. He was later charged with violation of probation, violation of curfew, and possession of a firearm. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was the agency which arrested Reardon and Bedat. Both are said to be residents of Riverview, an unincorporated community in the Tampa area. Bedat will be charged as an adult, the VSO says.