Florida Veteran Killed A Day After Trying To Stop Fight On Basketball Court, Family Says

A 25-year-old seasoned was changeable dormant successful Florida a time aft trying to break up an altercation connected a hoops court, according to his family.​

Robert Shealey Jr. was changeable connected April 17 successful Winter Park, successful nan Orlando area. The Orange County Sheriff's Office told The Independent that deputies responded to nan incident astatine 8.30 pm, earlier Shealey Jr. and different man were raced to nan hospital.​

Shealey Jr. was later pronounced dead, while nan different man, who had besides suffered gunshot wounds, was listed arsenic being successful a unchangeable condition. ​

The victim’s family told WKMG that Shealey Jr. had served successful nan National Guard for 4 years. His mother, Chiniqua "Star" Williams, said that her boy was known for de-escalating conflict. ​

“He kept trying to thief everyplace he went, and he tried to diffuse an statement aliases fight,” she said. “Then this young man comes successful and guns my babe down for illustration a terrorist.”

His father, Robert Shealey Sr., told nan outlet that he had not slept for 3 days successful nan aftermath of his son’s death. ​

“He was astatine nan hoops court…he wasn’t astatine a club, he wasn’t successful a gang,” Shealey Sr. said. “He was wherever he was expected to be, conscionable shooting ball.”​

In a abstracted question and reply pinch WFTV, Shealey Sr. said that his boy was dedicated to keeping children retired of trouble. He believes that Shealey Jr. was doing conscionable that earlier his death. ​

“He told me, ‘Dad, if I tin get conscionable 1 aliases 2 and fto them cognize this point retired present successful nan streets ain’t astir it,’” he said. “’I'd say, son, you can’t thief everybody.’​

“He said, ‘Dad, but if I tin get 1 aliases two, I’m good.’”​

According to his family, Shealey Jr. near nan National Guard aft he was injured successful nan statement of duty. He had planned to be Seminole State College successful nan upcoming schoolhouse year. ​

The OCSO told The Independent on Monday that nan investigation is ongoing but still successful nan early stages.​

In nan meantime, Shealey Sr. told WESH that he believes “justice has to beryllium served.”

Local Pastor Jake Stovall joined nan family’s demands for justice, having knowledgeable nonaccomplishment caused by weapon unit himself. Six years ago, his daughter, Renisha Lee, was killed erstwhile a slug went done her mobile home. ​

“This is simply a senseless death,” Stovall said, referring to Shealey Jr.’s killing. “We are each wounded and devastated because this continues to happen.”

​The family says they scheme to clasp a candlelight vigil and a balloon merchandise connected Monday astatine 6.30pm. Attendees person been asked to bring reddish balloons and to deterioration reddish successful Shealey Jr.’s honor.