JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Opening statements will begin Wednesday in the trial for two men charged with shooting and killing 13-year-old Prince Holland on Dec. 3, 2022. 

Prince was killed while in a car driving through the Moncrief area, coming back from football tryouts at the Legends Center and Gymnasium when someone opened fire on the car.

An 11-year-old passenger and the football coach driver of the car were also injured that night. The driver’s attorney, John Phillips, said the now 22-year-old was shot 10 times but ultimately survived. Two other youths in the car were not struck.

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.

You can watch Wednesday’s proceedings here, on First Coast News+ and on the First Coast News YouTube page. 

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

“I don’t believe in my heart and mind that I can ever hate anyone,” he said. “I have love for everyone and everything. Even though it hurts, I don’t have any hatred toward those guys. It was a crime they committed, and they have to pay for it with God and here on Earth by the law.”

Sammy described his love for his son as “head over heels,” calling it painful and disappointing that he only had a short time with him before his death.

Prince, a student and athlete, was described by family as driven and well-loved in the community. His former coach, Joseph Adams, said Holland dreamed of playing football at the highest level.

“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.