JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A roadside memorial now marks the spot where 30-year-old Michael White Jr. was shot and killed Tuesday evening on West 25th and Martha streets in Jacksonville.
"I'm hurting. My heart hurts. That guy didn't have to do that to him, take a life so senseless, my son," said White's mother, Wanda Mincey.
After searching for the gunman all night, police arrested 26-year-old Tremaine Harris on Wednesday morning, authorities said. Harris was charged with murder.
"Our witness said that they, as the suspect approached the victim, they were talking for a short period and then the suspect produced the gun and shot him 4 times," said Lt. Rob Schoonover with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
The victim's family said White was walking back from the store and was just two blocks away from his grandmother's home.
"I just want people to know it wasn't drug related. Every black man that gets killed is not drug related. He's the one that beat the odds. He didn't deal with that, he didn't want to ride on that," said Wanda Mincey.
When announcing the arrest of Harris (pictured, right) on Wednesday, police said they believed White was standing on the corner selling drugs and Harris tried to rob him, an allegation that brings White's mother to tears.
"I don't want my son's name to go out like that. He stayed right, he got no record, never been to jail, never did nothing and I don't want people to say anything bad about him. It hurt that he got killed but it hurt even more to hear that," said Wanda Mincey.
The victim's mother said she wants her son to be remembered as a graduate of Terry Parker High School and a proud father of a 7-year-old boy, who will be missed terribly.
"He was special. Anybody that know him that came in contact with him, just loved him," said Wanda Mincey.