Moment Florida schoolgirls’ catfight spiraled into shooting that left father of FOURTEEN dead
A Florida father of 14 was shot and killed as he tried to break up a fight between a group of teenage girls, including his daughter.
Johnny Stevenson Jr., 47, jumped in to protect his 15-year-old daughter after she called him to say she was in an argument with a classmate Tuesday. The fight continued outside the bus and several other children joined in.
The situation took a fatal turn when Stevenson intervened. He was shot in the abdomen by Kentarian Cross, 22, of Florida around 5:30 p.m., according to police reports.
Stevenson’s daughter told CBS: ‘The one who shot my father pulled my best friend away, then he pulled my mother. Then my father saw him, then the boy pushed my father away. My father pushed him back and then the boy pulled out a gun and shot him.
Johnny Stevenson, 47, was shot in the stomach Tuesday as he tried to protect his daughter from a fight between teenage girls
Kentarian Cross, 22, was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder
“I saw my dad in the corner of my eye. I saw him fall. I wasn’t really thinking. I saw him on the ground, I put pressure on his stomach. My mom, she comes and puts pressure on his stomach.”
The father was taken to Baptist Homestead Hospital and airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center for surgery, but he did not survive.
Cross turned himself in and was arrested Wednesday after multiple witnesses identified him, police said. He was charged with second-degree murder.
Before Cross turned himself in, police offered a $5,000 reward for any tip leading to his arrest.
Stevenson fell to the ground when he was shot during a brawl at a bus stop in Florida City
Stevenson’s daughter says the fight started verbally but turned physical when the girl she was fighting pepper-sprayed her and spat on her.
Video footage shows the altercation began on the bus, with the girls seen carrying out hair-pulling attacks and throwing punches.
A group of teenagers got involved in the fight as it drove down the street away from the bus stop. The person recording the fight on his cell phone screamed as the shot was fired and Stevenson fell to the ground.
Homestead Senior High School, where the students attend school, wrote in a statement to CBS: ‘The school management is investigating the matter and the students involved will be punished according to the student code of conduct.’
Stevenson—known to loved ones as “Bobo”—was a caring father to his 14 children, enjoyed dirt biking and cherished his family.
Stevenson was described as an excellent father to his 14 children and was well known in his community
His cousin told Local News 10: ‘We looked up to him. All his kids looked up to him – everybody, to be honest. He was just that person.’
He was a highly respected member of his community.
His uncle, Arnold Lloyd, told CBS: “I mean, there were so many people who loved him.”
According to police, Cross said nothing to detectives after his arrest.
He appeared in court on Thursday and is being held without bail.