‘I’m heartbroken’: Family and community leaders honor Rashaud Fields as case remains unsolved

It’s been almost four years since the 18-year-old star athlete was killed just hours after graduating from high school.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s been almost four years since a Jacksonville teen was killed just hours after graduating from high school. His family and community leaders gathered Thursday to honor his life and push for answers.

18-year-old Rashaud Fields was shot and killed in May 2022 at a graduation party, and no arrests have been made in the case.

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Fields’ mother, Janice Fields, said the pain of losing her son has not faded.

“I’m hurt,” she said. “I’m disgusted. And I’m just, you know, I’m heartbroken, to know that 4 years have gone by and no answers.”

Loved ones says Fields as a standout football player and bright student who earned a full scholarship to Keiser University in West Palm Beach.

“He was born to be great,” Janice Fields said.

A classmate, Saray Green, remembered him as funny, energetic and impossible to forget.

“Me and Rashaud, oh goodness, we were something else in class, always had a good time together,” Green said.

The tribute was held outside Raines High School, where Fields graduated in 2022 before he was shot and killed on Pine Estates Road later that day, police said.

Councilman Rahman Johnson said the loss still weighs heavily on the community.

“I’m still emotional just thinking about hours after graduation,” he said. “You think this kid is gonna go on and become the president of the United States or become a nuclear scientist and cure cancer, all the things and the hopes we have for our children. And he was just going to a party just to celebrate doing the things that we’re supposed to do in life.”

Fields’ family said the killing was a senseless act of gun violence and urged anyone with information to come forward.

“It starts from the home we got to put these guns down,” his mother said.

Johnson said anyone who knows something should speak up.

“Here’s an opportunity to let the weight go, say something,” he said.

Janice Fields added that tips can be given anonymously.

“All I ask y’all to do is please, please, if y’all know something, say something, and you will remain anonymous,” she said.

Anyone with information can contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office or First Coast Crime Stoppers.