A Florida teenager shot and killed another teen over fear that he would be outed as gay, according to Daytona Beach police.
Jakari Webb, 19, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, resisting an officer, and probation violation. He is being held without bail in the Volusia County Jail.
On June 23, police responded to the sound of gunshots while on patrol. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered Telan Mann, 19, lying in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Chief Jakari Young said during a press conference on Wednesday that the two teens had been in contact with one another on social media since February. The day the shooting occurred is believed to be the first time they met in person.
“Based on what we were able to ascertain, the suspect had some concern that he was going to be outed by our victim as far as his sexual preference, so to say,” Young said. “So that’s what we were able to gather as far as a motive for our shooting,”
On Friday, Bryan Shorstein, executive director of the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s 7th District, was asked if a hate crime charge might be added. He responded that his office will be “evaluating for additional charges.”
