A Florida father of 14 was shot and killed after trying to break up a fight involving a group of teenage girls that included his daughter.
Johnny Stevenson Jr., 47, stepped in to protect his 15-year-old daughter after she called him and said she had gotten into a fight with a classmate on Tuesday. The fight continued outside the bus and several other children joined in.
The situation took a fatal turn when Stevenson intervened. Kentarian Cross, 22, of Florida City, shot him in the stomach around 5:30 p.m., according to police reports.
Stevenson’s daughter told him CBS:’The person who shot my dad pushed my best friend away and then my mom. That’s when my dad saw him and the guy pushed my dad. My dad pushed him back and then the guy pulled out a gun and shot him.
Johnny Stevenson, 47, was shot in the stomach on Tuesday as he tried to protect his daughter from a teenage fight.
Kentarian Cross, 22, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday.
“I saw my father out of 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 mother came to put pressure on his stomach.”
The father was taken to Baptist Homestead Hospital and airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center for surgery, but did not survive.
Cross turned himself in and was arrested Wednesday after several witnesses identified him, police said. He was charged with second-degree murder.
Before Cross turned himself in, police were offering a $5,000 reward for any tips leading to his arrest.
Stevenson fell to the ground after being shot during the altercation near a Florida City bus stop.
Stevenson’s heartbroken daughter said the fight started verbally, but turned physical once the girl he was fighting with pepper sprayed and spit on him.
The video shows the altercation started on the bus. The girls were seen attacking each other, pulling hair and throwing punches.
A group of teenagers got into the fight as the vehicle was moving down the street, away from the bus stop. The person who was filming the fight on his mobile phone screamed when the shot was fired and Stevenson fell to the ground.
Homestead Senior High School, where the students attend, wrote in a statement to CBS‘The school administration is reviewing the matter and the students involved will be disciplined in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.’
Stevenson, known to loved ones as “Bobo,” was a loving father to his 14 children. He 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 admired him. All of his children admired him, all of us, to be honest. He was just that kind of person.’
He was a highly respected member of his community.
His uncle, Arnold Lloyd, told CBS: “I mean, a lot of people loved him.”
Cross did not say anything to detectives after his arrest, according to police reports.
He was brought before the court on Thursday and is being held without bail.
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