JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The father of a local teen killed during a robbery is speaking out against gun violence in Jacksonville.
Gary Steele is opening up for the first time about the death of his son, 18-year-old Dante Steele, last Friday night.
"Having to deal with the fact that I won't hear his voice again," said Steele.
Dante Steele was robbed and shot to death in a driveway on Birkenhead Road. Neighbors called police after hearing gunshots and when medics arrived, they found the teen lying on the road.
Gary Steele keeps replaying the last time he was with his baby boy. It was New Year's Eve. He reflected on the memory of his fun-loving son. "He was going to sing this one part of the song that Dante used to love and my mom said come, 'sing it for me baby.' And they were around the house singing and having a good time."
Gary Steele says Dante talked about joining the military. But thanks to what he calls senseless violence, his son never got a chance to serve his country.
Dante was the first homicide victim of what's already been a busy new year for police.
I tracked the numbers from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. According to this year's records, there have been 11 shooting victims in the first 11 days of 2013. That's up two from this time last year.
It's a scary statistic that Gary Steele wants no other family to experience firsthand. "Dante's gone but I don't want another family member, no other father or mother, from having to experience this pain," said Steele. "Whatever I can do to try to stop that within the law, within my Christian beliefs, I'm going to do that."
Dante's funeral is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. Thomas Family Life Center in Jacksonville.
Police are still looking for the person responsible. If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. You can earn up to a $1,000 cash reward if an arrest is made and you can remain anonymous.
