Man, 20, arrested after Rick Ross' son says he was pistol-whipped near Bethune-Cookman

What police say happened

William Roberts III, the son of rapper Rick Ross, told Daytona Beach police that a man threatened him with a handgun and struck him in the head on Oct. 11 while he stood on a sidewalk near Bethune-Cookman University, according to police records reported by WKMG News 6 and NBC 6 South Florida. ^{[1] [2]}

Roberts said he was talking with a woman when a car pulled up and the driver got out with a gun. Police say the man told him, "I don't care who your daddy is, I'll kill you right here," WKMG reported. NBC 6 said the man then hit Roberts on the right side of the head with the weapon before Roberts drove home. ^{[1] [2]}

Rolling Out placed the confrontation near McLeod Avenue and Weaver Street. It reported that Roberts described minor swelling and said he did not need medical attention, a detail XXL also reported from police records. ^{[4] [3]}

The arrest and charges

Police arrested a 20-year-old man on Oct. 16, NBC 6 reported. He faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Outlets give his name as Don Roberts or Don Roberts III, and Rolling Out noted that one report lists him as Don Roberts II. ^{[2] [1] [4]}

Roberts did not report the attack right away. He told officers he was afraid, according to WKMG and NBC 6, and Rolling Out said he came forward a day later. He gave police the suspect's name and later picked him out of a photo lineup. City cameras did not record the encounter, Rolling Out reported. ^{[1] [2] [4]}

WKMG and Rolling Out said the suspect no longer appeared on the Volusia County Jail website by Oct. 20. Neither outlet said whether he posted bond or has entered a plea, and no attorney for him has been identified in the coverage. The charges are allegations and have not been tested in court. ^{[1] [4]}

Possible motive

According to the arrest affidavit cited by Rolling Out, Roberts believes the confrontation was linked to the woman he was speaking with and her earlier relationship with the suspect. NBC 6 reported that the man shouted a remark Roberts took to be about the woman as he got out of the car. Police have not publicly confirmed a motive, and XXL described it as unclear. ^{[4] [2] [3]}

Football background

Roberts committed to play college football at Bethune-Cookman in January 2024 as a senior lineman at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, Sports Illustrated reported at the time. ^[6]

He appeared on the school's 2025 roster, but Rolling Out reported that the university says he was dismissed before the 2026 season for disciplinary reasons and is no longer with the program. XXL also described him as a former Bethune-Cookman player. WKMG's report still referred to him as a tight end at the school. ^{[4] [3] [1]}

Reaction

Rick Ross has not commented publicly on the incident. XXL said it contacted his team and Daytona Beach police for comment and reported no response. ^[3]

Rapper 50 Cent, a longtime rival of Ross, mocked the arrest on Instagram. AllHipHop reported that he wrote "Damn got the man arrested" and referred to Ross's past work as a prison guard. XXL reported that in a later post he offered to bond the suspect out. ^{[5] [3]}

As of Oct. 20, none of the reports listed a court date or a plea from the suspect. ^{[1] [4]}