A teenager accused of fatally shooting another teen on New Year’s Eve in Fort Lauderdale Beach was arrested, police said on Sunday.
According to Fort Lauderdale Police, officers and U.S. Marshals found the 17-year-old suspect on Saturday and took him into custody.
NBC6 is not identifying the suspect because he is a minor.
The teen’s charges were not released.
Detectives are investigating after a teen was killed in a New Year’s Eve shooting at Fort Lauderdale Beach, police said.
Police on Dec. 31 responded to reports of a shooting at 17 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard at around 11:30 p.m.
At the scene, officers found the juvenile male victim with a gunshot wound and gave him first aid before he was rushed to Broward General Medical Center for treatment. He later died from his injuries.
The victim’s father identified him as 17-year-old Joshua Gipson Jr., a local high school student and avid football player.
“They say he was probably hit by an innocent bystander, some people were arguing or shooting, and he was trying to help somebody, and he got shot,” Joshua Gipson Sr. said. “He was a beautiful kid.”
In cellphone video of the shooting, multiple shots were heard being fired as people ran for safety.
“Bang, bang, bang, just heard shots, and I said, ‘That’s not fireworks, that sounds like shots,'” said Ben McDonald, who was staying nearby. “Oh my God, scary, I have my 24-year-old son here, and it scares the life out of me, we could’ve all been down there, scary.”
Gipson’s friends remembered the high school junior for his talents on the football field and the joy he brought to their lives.
“He was funny, he was fun to be around, he was a happy soul, he was a good person, a good football player, a good running back, he was good in and off the field,” said one friend, who didn’t want to give his name.