NEED TO KNOW
\nA Florida teen reportedly has died after he was caught in the crossfire of a shooting on New Year’s EveFamily has identified the teen family as 17-year-old Joshua Gipson, Jr.A family friend said Gipson was out with friends when he was fatally shot<\/p>\n
A teenager reportedly has died after he was shot in Florida on New Year\u2019s Eve.\n<\/p>\n
The incident occurred just before midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 31 along North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, according to WPLG<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Police reportedly said a 17-year-old boy, identified by family as Joshua Gipson, Jr., was hospitalized after the shooting. Family said he later died.\n<\/p>\n One woman, who identified herself as a friend of Gipson\u2019s family, said Gipson and friends were visiting Fort Lauderdale Beach on New Year\u2019s Eve.\n<\/p>\n A witness told WPLG that the teen appeared to have been caught in the crossfire of two people who were shooting at each other.\n<\/p>\n Family reportedly believed Gipson would survive his injuries, but he ultimately died. The family friend said Gipson hoped to attend Virginia Tech next year.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I lost a child, and that\u2019s not even my child,\u201d the woman said, per WPLG. She went on to describe Gipson as \u201ca ball of sunshine.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The family friend said Gipson\u2019s mother is \u201cso distraught\u201d and at a \u201closs for words\u201d following her son\u2019s death.\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a good boy, good person, a good big brother, loving, caring, everything,\u201d the woman explained.\n<\/p>\n