JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Students at First Coast High School are dealing with another tragedy, as a former student was shot and killed at a party over the weekend.
Police said 19-year-old Mikel Stewart was killed at a party Sunday at about 2 a.m. in Arlington on Cocoa Avenue near Acme Street. He played football at First Coast High last school year. He is the third player from the team to be killed in the last year.
Stewart’s former teammate Brian Foster said he’s tired of dealing with loss.
“It’s definitely a pattern that needs to stop,” said Foster. “I just don’t know why everybody feels like they have to resort to violence to solve their problems,” Foster said.
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Since that shooting, hundreds of friends and family members posted with the hashtag #RIPMikel on social media.
http://twitter.com/lowkeyy_daphne/status/683754121539784704
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Foster said he has experienced a similar situation when two more former teammates were also murdered.
“That was my third teammate, that I lost, Jequan and Johnnell. I lost them earlier in 2015,” said Foster.
Foster said Stewart was a great football player and a great person on and off the field. Last year he wore the No. 16 for First Coast High School.
“It was such a good time playing with Mikel. He was definitely one of my favorite guys watching on and off the field,” said Foster.
But Foster said although Stewart’s career was cut short, his memory lives on.
“Every Friday night, just watching him put his heart out onto the field, he really gave it his all,” said Foster.
Stewart's father said his son was playing at Alabama State University, but returned home to be with his family for the holidays.
Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti released a statement:
"The First Coast High School community and Duval County Public Schools are deeply saddened by the recent passing of one of its former students, and our sympathies are with his family and friends during this time."
JSO did detain 15 people from that party, and there is no suspect information.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
WJAX
