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Man charged with murder of Durant HS football player

Samuel Morrissey Jr. is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm.
Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Samuel Morrissey Jr. is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrested a Riverview man suspected of killing a Durant High School football player in a drug-related shooting.

Samuel Morrissey Jr., 20, is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm. He's suspected of shooting and killing Grover Wills.

Wills was 18.

The sheriff's office said Wills was shot and killed around 7:50 p.m. Sunday, April 15 at the Mobil Gas Station at 612 West Lumsden Road in Brandon, Florida.

Morrissey and Wills arranged to meet by using the messenger within a social media platform, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office said Wills tried to pay for marijuana by using counterfeit money wrapped in other legitimate U.S. currency. When Morrissey became aware, he tried to take the marijuana back from Wills.

A struggle ensued and Morrissey shot Wills once using a .38-caliber revolver, the sheriff's office said.

Wills ran back to his car and someone drove him to an area hospital where he later died.

Morrissey admitted to investigators to meeting Wills for "a transaction," and admitted to shooting Wills, according to the sheriff's office.

Parents, teachers and students filled the Durant High School football field Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil to remember Wills.

The school's football team expressed its condolences Monday in a tweet:

“With heavy Hearts, Last night, we lost not only a teammate but a brother,” the school’s football account tweeted. “Rest In Peace Grover Wills! Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. #5 #Cougars..Forever.”

Wills was set to graduate on May 22. He also played for the school's basketball team.

Related: Durant High School football player killed in an apparent drug-related shooting

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