JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Wednesday, the trial for the two individuals accused of shooting and killing 13-year-old Prince Holland on December 3, 2022, will commence with opening statements. 

The tragic incident occurred as Prince was in a vehicle passing through the Moncrief area, returning from football tryouts at the Legends Center and Gymnasium, when the car was suddenly fired upon.

Also injured that night were an 11-year-old passenger and the car’s driver, a football coach. According to the driver’s lawyer, John Phillips, the now 22-year-old was shot 10 times but ultimately survived. Two other young passengers in the vehicle were unharmed.

At the time, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the car was specifically targeted. 

“It was callous, they didn’t care who they shot in the car,” he said. “It didn’t matter.”

Kentrevious Garard and Marcel Johnson are each facing trial on murder charges, with separate juries hearing their cases.

Prince’s father, Sammy Holland, said he is choosing to forgive rather than harbor hate toward the men accused of killing his son.

“In my heart and mind, I cannot harbor hatred for anyone,” he expressed. “I embrace love for all beings. Despite the pain, I hold no animosity towards those individuals. They engaged in a crime and must be held accountable both by divine judgment and by the law here on Earth.”

Sammy expressed a profound love for his son, describing it as “head over heels,” and shared his grief over the limited time he had with him before his untimely death.

Prince, known as a dedicated student and athlete, was regarded by family as ambitious and cherished in the community. His previous coach, Joseph Adams, recalled Holland’s aspiration to excel in football at the highest echelons.

“He wanted to be a wide receiver, and that’s the position I had him playing,” Adams said in a previous interview.

Prince’s mother, Chantel Brown, said her son wanted to play professionally for the Kansas City Chiefs. She has spoken emotionally about the loss since his death.

“My birthday was the worst day of my life, because my baby wasn’t here,” Brown said at a candlelight vigil in 2022.

In a separate interview, she added, “I miss my son. I miss him every day. There’s not a day that I’m not going to miss him. I just want to see him knock on the door like it’s all a dream.”

Investigators said Prince was caught in the crossfire of rival gangs on Dec. 3, 2022, when gunfire struck the car he was riding in after football tryouts in Jacksonville’s Moncrief area.

For Prince’s father, the trial is a step forward. He said his hope is one day to see his son again in heaven.