Christopher Granados

Christopher Granados, a 16-year-old Hispanic male, was a junior at Fort Lauderdale High School described by his family as humble, kind, and having a big heart. He was the oldest child in his family and a brother to two younger sisters. His mother, Edith Medina, said he was loved by everyone, and that after his death, a part of her was gone. His peers remembered him as a good guy who always made people laugh.

On the afternoon of Monday, September 16, 2024, Christopher was with friends inside an apartment in the 400 block of Northwest 25th Street in Wilton Manors, Florida. Shortly after 2:30 p.m., he and another 16-year-old, Herbe Belony, were playing with handguns. According to witnesses who spoke with investigators, the two teens were pointing the firearms at each other when one of the guns discharged, and a bullet struck Christopher in the head. Emergency responders arrived to find him with a gunshot wound and rushed him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Broward Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives took over the investigation. They found two handguns in plain view inside the apartment. That night, they arrested Herbe Belony, a fellow 11th-grader at Fort Lauderdale High School. He was initially charged as a juvenile with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and held in a juvenile detention center. Belony’s father described the shooting as a terrible accident, stating his son had never been in trouble before.

Christopher’s family was left devastated. His mother said she felt destroyed, adding, “The person who did it needs to pay because this is a pain so big that we are dealing with.” His father, Jose Granados, called for accountability, questioning how the teens obtained the firearms and suggesting that the owner of the guns should also be held responsible. The family started a GoFundMe to help with expenses.

In November 2024, Herbe Belony’s case was transferred to adult court, where he was formally charged as an adult with manslaughter with a firearm. In June 2025, Belony was sentenced in connection with the fatal shooting.