A 17-year-old Florida boy faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly intentionally striking and killing his 16-year-old classmate with a car while the victim rode a scooter in Orlando. The incident, which occurred on November 20, 2025, stemmed from prior bullying at school that forced the victim to switch to homeschooling. Surveillance footage confirmed the act was deliberate, leading to the upgraded charge.
On November 20, 2025, in the 2800 block of Wakulla Way, a narrow one-lane street without sidewalks in Orlando, Florida, 16-year-old Mikhail Cuba was riding a scooter when 17-year-old Elijah Emmans allegedly drove into him intentionally, resulting in Cuba's death. The Orange County Sheriff's Office charged Emmans with first-degree murder following an initial investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol, which treated the case as a hit-and-run and filed a vehicular manslaughter charge. Surveillance video evidence prompted the sheriff's office to take over and elevate the accusation, leading to Emmans's arrest on a Friday and placement in a juvenile detention facility. His next court appearance date remains unclear.
According to Cuba's family, Emmans was part of a group of bullies who tormented the teenager at school, making his life so unbearable that he had to leave and begin homeschooling. Cuba's grandmother, Ectasy Mooty, described Emmans as a "really sick, sick individual," adding, "That's not even a person. I wouldn't even classify that as an animal." She vowed to seek justice, stating, "They're cowards because they did it from behind. He didn't see them coming. But they're going to see me coming. They're going to see me every day in court, and I hope it haunts them."
The family endured further tragedy when Cuba's mother died months later from an accidental overdose. Mooty explained, "Being without your child — who was just a child with so much promise — it just broke her heart and she died in her sleep."
Cuba's obituary portrayed him as a "young man of remarkable kindness, intelligence, and generosity." It noted, "He was quiet and serious, yet his playful and silly side shone through for those he loved. He was always willing to go the extra mile for his family and friends. No matter the distance, you could always count on him being there for you."
