Police: Suspect blamed Palmetto teenager's death on drug deal gone bad

PALMETTO -- Palmetto police said they believe the death of a Palmetto High School football player at 4:59 p.m. Thursday was the result of a drug deal gone wrong based on interviews with the suspect.

Kyle O'Halloran, 18, was killed on Christmas Day when he was thrown from the side of a vehicle driven by 20-year-old Roberto Betancourt, according to police.

Betancourt pulled into O'Halloran's driveway in the 1800 block of 24th Avenue West in a Lincoln Town Car with two passengers in the car, according to reports.

O'Halloran approached the vehicle and presented a small amount of marijuana to Betancourt and the passengers, who passed it around to smell it, police said. Betancourt then purposely began accelerating out of the driveway without paying for the marijuana.

O'Halloran reached for the rear driver's side window, hanging on to the vehicle as it began to pull away, according to a report. Police said Betancourt purposely kept accelerating as O'Halloran held onto the vehicle, reaching speeds above the posted speed limit before O'Halloran lost his grip and fell in the 1900 block of 24th Avenue West. Betancourt did not stop the car.

O'Halloran died as a result of head trauma, according to an autopsy performed Friday. Police arrested Betancourt later Thursday night and charged him with one count of vehicular homicide.

Detective Chad Oyler of the Palmetto Police Department said officials are still waiting for a warrant to search Betancourt's impounded vehicle. Oyler said Betancourt told detectives O'Halloran was trying to sell him marijuana.

Palmetto High School officials had a vehicle O'Halloran was riding in searched a few weeks ago when he left and returned to campus during lunch, according to Steve Valley, spokesman for the Manatee County School District.

Valley said searching the vehicles of students who leave during the day and return to campus is policy, but nothing was found in the vehicle.

Palmetto Police Chief Rick Wells said they are not pursuing anything further on the alleged marijuana sale.

"We have no evidence of prior activity," Wells said.

On Monday, prosecutors filed a charge of first-degree vehicular homicide against Betancourt. Other charges are pending, including leaving the scene of a crash involving a death, reckless driving and driving without a license.

Betancourt is being held without bond at the Manatee County jail.

O'Halloran was a senior at Palmetto High School and a fullback, offensive guard and linebacker for the Tigers football team throughout his high school career. He had a 4.0 GPA, according to football coach Dave Marino.

The O'Halloran family did not return a call requesting comment Monday.

This story was originally published December 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Police: Suspect blamed Palmetto teenager's death on drug deal gone bad."