Racial slurs prompt spring break shooting

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. - Daytona Beach Shores Police said frustration over repeated racial slurs landed two spring breakers behind bars.

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The investigation began at 3:30 a.m. at the Sea Oats Resort when police learned that about 15 white male and female spring breakers were grouped near the pool at the same area where two men were sitting in the hot tub with three other women.

Police said the suspects, identified as Carlton Phipps and Raymond Brown and the women in the hot tub are all black. Witnesses said some of the men from the large group began using racial slurs directing them to the group in the hot tub.

Brown said he ignored the comments for some time, but then left and came back with a .380 Bersa semi-automatic gun that he got from his room. Police said when Brown returned, Phipps left and got a Glock.

The suspects told the large group that if they didn’t leave him and his friends alone, he would shoot them. Police said the white males continued to insult the small group as they left. Brown fired two shots into the air and Phipps shot three more. Witnesses said the large group continued to yell racial slurs as they ran.

Police said both brown and Phipps buried their handguns on the beach and left but the weapons were shortly recovered by officers. Both men admitted to the shooting.

Phipps, 21, is a junior at Norfolk State and is a member of the track team. Brown, 23, told police he was a graduate of Norfolk State and currently coached the track team. Both men were arrested and taken to the Volusia County Jail where they are being held on a $5,000 bond each.