Teenage boy’s shooting death prompts talk in Deerfield Beach about need to stop gun violence

Detectives continue to investigate fatal shooting in Riviera Beach

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Terrance “TeeJay” Jackson would have celebrated his 16th birthday on Wednesday. Instead, his mother, Tronicia Jackson, and his father, Terrance Jackson Sr., were attending a vigil to mourn their son.

On Thursday, the teenage boy’s murder was at the heart of a group discussion about gun violence at the Dr. Leo J. Robb, Jr. Memorial Gymnasium in Deerfield Beach.

Rev. Herold Westly, of the Newborn Holiness Church in Pompano Beach, said the group was hoping to come up with ideas “to stop the black on black violence” and to “create other alternatives.”

Terrance Jackson, a 15-year-old Deerfield Beach High School football player, was killed in a shooting that took place during a funeral. (WPLG)

The grieving parents saw Terrance, a Deerfield Beach High School football player, die on Saturday after Royce Freeman shot him in the neck, police said. The sophomore died in his mother’s arms across the street from the Victory City Church in Riviera Beach.

Freeman, 47, also died after another gunman returned fire, police said. Tequila Johnson attended the Deerfield Beach event on Thursday. She said the shooting could have been avoided.

“He was a child, and he lost his life for something ridiculous,” Johnson said.

The Riviera Beach Police Department is still investigating the fatal shooting.


About the Authors
Roy Ramos headshot

Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018. Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City. He attended Christopher Columbus High School, Homestead Senior High School and graduated from St. Thomas University.

Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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