Melbourne Police Arrest Man For July Murder of Former Palm Bay Pirate Football Star Twonnie Pollard

By  //  October 12, 2018

charged with premeditated second-degree murder and shooting from a vehicle

Devale Eugene Rivers Jr. (left) was arrested on Thursday for the July murder of a former Palm Bay Pirate football player, Twonnie Pollard. (right)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – A Melbourne man was arrested on Thursday for the July murder of a former Palm Bay Pirate football player, Twonnie Pollard.

Police identified the suspect as 19-year-old Devale Eugene Rivers Jr. who has been charged with premeditated second-degree murder and shooting from a vehicle.

According to authorities, Melbourne Police Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Rivers after he shot and killed Twonnie Pollard at the Sunoco Gas
Station located at 4000 S. Babcock St. in Melbourne back on July 27.

“When officers arrived, they found Pollard with multiple gunshots and transported him to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries,” said Lt. Cheryl Trainer of the Melbourne Police Department.

Police say the shooting occurred after a dispute in the parking lot of the gas station.

After a thorough investigation, police had their man and, eventually, found Rivers on Thursday.

Twonnie Pollard

“At approximately 7 p.m., Melbourne Police Detectives with the assistance of the Brevard County GAMEOVER task force located Rivers near the intersection of Pace Dr. and Gillen Ave. in Palm Bay,” said Lt. Trevor Shaffer of the Melbourne Police Department.

Rivers was arrested without incident and was booked into the Brevard County Jail.

Pollard, 21, was well-known amongst the Palm Bay Pirate faithful as a linebacker and running back for the Pirates from the 2013 to 2015 seasons where he graduated in May 2016.

He received a number of offers from colleges during high school to play football.

Rivers has a long criminal history, dating back to May of 2017, that includes charges of grand theft firearm, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of weapon by Florida Delinquent Adult and battery.

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Johnny Bynum at 321-608-6461.

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