18-year-old was shot, found dead in submerged car, FL cops say. 2 friends charged

When an 18-year-old’s body was pulled from a submerged car in the Suwannee River in Florida, investigators learned he had also been shot, authorities said.

William Powell Jr. was found in the river in White Springs after a 911 call came in shortly after midnight on Sunday, May 4, Hamilton County Sheriff Brian Creech said at a news conference on May 6.

Cameron Fine, 18, was charged with second-degree murder and destroying evidence, while Josh Daniel, 18, was charged with accessory after the fact and destroying evidence, the sheriff said.

Investigators said Powell was killed May 3, and his body was retrieved from the submerged vehicle the next day.

Creech called it a “senseless murder that should’ve never happened.”

The same day Powell’s body was discovered, investigators said they arrested the two 18-year-olds. The sheriff told McClatchy News they were friends of Powell.

Sherry Blankenship told WCTV her cousin Powell was a “wonderful kid” who was loved widely.

“We love him so much and we want justice done for Junior,” Blankenship told the outlet. “We want justice. We want no stone unturned.”

Investigators are working to determine a motive.

Hamilton County is on the border of Florida and Georgia, about a 90-mile drive west from Jacksonville.

This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 3:07 PM with the headline "18-year-old was shot, found dead in submerged car, FL cops say. 2 friends charged."