JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Blue lights, hundreds of people, and police tape is what Jimmy Carter saw when he drove up to Nippers after learning his son was involved in a shooting. He's now grieving the loss of his son Zachariah Tipton.
"I'm in shock about it. He would have been the last one in the world I thought anything would happen to," said Carter.
Tipton's Fernandina Beach neighbor Kristi McNeil is equally shocked to learn that the quiet father of three, business owner, and motorcycle enthusiast is gone.
"There has been no issues. He rides his motorcycle up and down. It's quiet, it's real quiet back here, so there's been no issues or anything," said McNeil.
Carter says the entire family is numb, but family members are trying to do the best they can with planning Tipton's funeral.
"His mother is taking it real hard. She's taking it real hard. His wife, I'm surprised she's taking it as good as she is," said Carter.
Tipton's father has his suspicions about motorcycle crowds and now just wants to know who killed his son.
"He just got into this motorcycle stuff and naturally it takes you out to the bars and places where you can find trouble if you're looking for it," said Carter.
Carter has heard bits of information from people at the scene, Jax Beach police and family to try and form a complete picture of what happened the night his son was gunned down.
"I think there was an altercation at the bar that lead into a fight and they went outside from what I understand and the man just shot him. I don't know what to say I don't know what to do. We're just trying to get the details and what happened. There was a lot of people there, a lot of witnesses so today I'll know what happened," said Carter.
Tipton's injuries were so bad, he says officials wouldn't let him identify his son.
"Shot him four times from what I hear. They wouldn't let us see him last night at the hospital," said Carter.
Now neighbors, friends, and family are coming together to say goodbye.
"It's sad to go to a place like that and want to enjoy yourself and something like that happens. You know, nobody deserves that," said McNeil.
The family says it will continue to talk with Jax Beach police until someone is charged and sentenced for killing Zachariah.
If you would like to help the family with funeral expenses you can donate at any Vystar Credit Union with the account number #7504785420.