Florida Teen Shot Dead by Gunman Who Thought He Was Going to 'Out' Him on Social Media
A Florida teen was shot dead because the gunman thought the victim would reveal his sexual orientation on social media.
According to Daytona Beach police, 19-year-old Telan Mann was found dead on June 23 on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds.
Crime Online reported that a cop nearby heard the shots and rushed to the scene. However, he was too late to save the Florida teen.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said Wednesday that Jakari Webb, 19, has been charged with first-degree murder in Mann's death.
Police were able to arrest Webb on Tuesday night near a house on Garden Street after investigators identified and tracked him using surveillance video.
Young said Webb shot Mann to death during their first meeting at Forest Glen Boulevard and Oak Tree Circle because he thought he was going to out him as gay.
"There was some concern that Telan either had or was going to post something on social media kind of outing the suspect," Young noted, suggesting that this was the motive for the shooting.
Apart from the first-degree murder, police said Webb is also facing charges of a probation violation and resisting arrest. According to WESH, there were also discussions that a hate crime charge would be added.
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Florida Teen Shot Dead as Part of Gunman's Revenge?
According to the investigation, the two Florida teenagers had been talking online since February. But before they spoke online, the two already had a history as Jakari Webb told the police that Telan Mann started saying he was gay a couple of years ago, and people started to believe him.
Because of this, Webb admitted that he created a fake Instagram account to get back at Mann, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.
The police discovered a black cellphone located approximately 10 feet away from where Mann was shot. The cellphone included the exchange of texts between the Florida teen and the suspect from 11:30 p.m. June 22 to 1:51 a.m. June 23.
Just before Mann was killed, the two Florida teens were discussing where to meet. At one point, Mann told Webb he was at the Sunoco gas station, but when the suspect failed to meet him there, Mann told Webb to meet him at Oak Tree Circle instead at around 1:33 a.m. on June 23.
At 1:51 a.m., the suspect asked Mann to "come to side walk," and the Florida teen replied, "okay." Mann's last message said: "That's you hiding."
Police said Webb pulled out a gun and shot the Florida teen during their meeting. Currently, Jakari Webb is being held without bail at the Volusia County Jail.
Florida Teen Is 'Caring and Happy Person,' His Friends Say
A group of Telan Mann's friends, who did not want to be identified, said he was a happy and caring person and the group's peacemaker.
"He never wanted nothing bad for nobody. He always wanted everybody to be on good terms. He always was the positive one around the group. He never wanted any bad energy at all," a victim's friend told WESH.
Meanwhile, a neighbor at the apartment complex where Mann lived told the outlet that it breaks their hearts to see that two teens' lives were "gone" and "not just one."
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Joshua Summers
WATCH: Daytona Beach Police Chief Says 19-Year-Old Shot, Killed Man for Fear of Being Outed as Gay - From Daytona Beach News-Journal
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