Derek Pitts was 16 when he was fatally shot on December 29, 2023, at the Coopers Hawk Apartment homes on Old St. Augustine Road in Jacksonville’s Mandarin area. A large party had moved to the complex from a nearby location and a fight broke out between two groups. Someone fired at least 10 shots; one bullet struck Pitts. He was taken to hospital and did not survive.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says tips from First Coast Crime Stoppers helped identify 19-year-old Colton Moore as a suspect. Moore was already in custody on unrelated charges when he was charged with Pitts’ murder and made a first court appearance; the judge set no bail and noted the murder charge could carry a life sentence. Pitts’ family described the aftermath as a nightmare and urged the community to confront teen gun violence.

Is anyone in the Jacksonville area able to share information about that party or the groups involved?