The mother of a teen killed on New Year’s Eve in Fort Lauderdale is speaking out now that police made an arrest in the case.
A 17-year-old suspect was arrested Saturday in connection with Joshua Gipson’s death, according to Fort Lauderdale Police. NBC6 is not identifying the suspect because he is a minor.
“I don’t feel relief. I don’t feel any type of way,” Gipson’s mother told NBC6 on Monday. “I’m a hurting mom; my son is never going to come back home. Now another mom got to go through it, I don’t feel any type of way.”
The shooting happened in the area of 17 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard at around 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, as thousands were celebrating and ringing in the new year.
According to Fort Lauderdale Police, officers and U.S. Marshals found the 17-year-old suspect on Saturday and took him into custody
Cellphone video captured multiple gunshots outside Beach Place, then the chaos of the aftermath and officers running to the scene.
Fort Lauderdale Police’s fugitive unit, along with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, took the suspect into custody Saturday without incident. His charges were not released.
Witnesses said the shooting happened after an argument started within a group of people, and that Gipson might have stepped in to try and calm things down.
NBC6, Family Photo
NBC6, Family Photo
A Dec. 31, 2025 shooting at Fort Lauderdale Beach claimed the life of 17-year-old Joshua Gipson Jr.
His mother reiterated how smart her son was and that he was focused on football and going to college.
“He was a very smart kid, he was going to school and staying out of the way, staying out of trouble,” she said. “He was my baby.”
Police have not elaborated on what they think led up to the shooting. They’re still asking anyone with information on what happened to call them directly, or reach out to Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.