Benjamin Howard, 23, was one of three men shot to death outside AJ’s bar in downtown Ocala shortly before 1 a.m. on June 2, 2013. The other victims were Josue Santiago, 25, and Jerry Bynes Jr., 20. All three men were leaving the establishment when they were shot at point-blank range.

The shooter was identified as 31-year-old Andrew Lobban, an acquaintance and co-worker who worked with the victims as a bouncer at the Ocala Entertainment Complex. He reportedly told police he planned the killings, confessed to a friend he was sorry for what he was about to do, discarded the gun in a nearby trash can after fleeing, and the weapon was later recovered.

Lobban was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty and accepted a plea agreement that resulted in three concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole. The killings prompted a candlelight vigil and left the community and families grieving. Did anyone who knew Benjamin or the other victims witness tensions between them and Lobban before that night?