GREEN COVE SPRING, Fla. – Hundreds of people showed up for a vigil Wednesday night to remember the 18-year-old boy who deputies said was shot and killed during a robbery at a Green Cove Springs home early Sunday.
The entire baseball field at Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park in Lake Asbury was filled with friends and family who tearfully said goodbye to Kolton Shearer, described as one of the "nicest kids around."
PHOTOS: Vigil held to remember Kolton Shearer
Shearer, who graduated from Middleburg High School last year, was a member of the Broncos' baseball team and had earned a scholarship at South Georgia State College.
Nathan Heminger said he's heartbroken that his good friend was murdered.
"That is a harsh word. That's someone that is taken away from you, gone off this earth before their time has come. It's, just, that's what hurts the most. You think about that. Someone that didn't know Kolton, and didn't know the light he had on people's lives, just taking him out this would, it doesn't make sense. It doesn't at all," Heminger said.
Loved ones remember Shearer as a shy but energetic teenager, who had a future playing baseball.
"He was an honest kid, well-rounded, just did everything right. He was someone that you could trust. Someone you could confide in. And he was a real person, inside and out. I'll always appreciate being his friend, now that he's gone," Heminger said.
At the vigil, many people wore green in Shearer's honor, and memories of the teen were read aloud. Members of Clay County Fire Rescue and the Clay County Sheriff's Office also came to pay their respects.
A pastor at the service told people that they need to move forward and not let the situation turn into evil.
Tristan Altman said he has no idea why someone pulled out a gun and shot his best friend at the Green Cove Springs home.
"I didn't understand. I ride around with Kolton everywhere. He never went to that house before, never went to Green Cove. We always rode around Middleburg, and hung out with friends and went to his dad's house. He never went to Green Cove," Altman said.
Shearer's friends said they just want justice, although nothing will bring him back.
"This could be anyone any day. If Kolton could teach us one more lesson in this world, it's the fact that you should never miss the chance to say 'I love you' to someone, because it could be the last time. Because you never know when it's going to be the last time," Heminger said.
Shearer's funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Russell Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help support Shearer's family.
4 arrested in shooting death of 18-year-old
A 22-year-old murder suspect wanted in connection with a double shooting that took the life of Shearer surrendered Tuesday to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, deputies said.
Ozell McNabb Jr. appeared in court Wednesday morning after he was transferred Tuesday afternoon to the Clay County Jail, where he is being held on charges of felony murder and armed robbery. He was denied bond.
McNabb is one of four people suspected in the shooting death of Shearer. On Sunday, deputies arrested Jordan Tyler Coleman, 20, Taurean Johnson, 28, and Alexandra Schreffler, 21, in the robbery and shooting.
McNabb called the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday afternoon and told deputies where he was and that he was tired of running, deputies said. He was dropped off along State Road 13 in the Orangedale area and waited for deputies to come pick him up.
McNabb told investigators he wanted to cooperate, but he requested an attorney, so detectives could not question him.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office had asked the U.S. Marshals Service to help find McNabb, a fourth suspect in the shooting at a Green Cove Springs home early Sunday.
Clay County detectives said they believe McNabb left the county at some point Monday, but they're not sure how he left or where he was hiding before he turned himself in Tuesday.
Detectives said McNabb, along with Coleman, Johnson and Schreffler, were with Shearer and two other people at the home on County Road 16A near Idlewild Avenue around 2 a.m. The reason for the meeting was not known, but investigators said they believe robbery was the motive for the incident. They said someone in the group of four started shooting, killing Shearer and hitting a second victim, David Levo, in the leg.
After Shearer was shot, another person drove him in a pickup truck to a Kangaroo gas station about 1 mile away for help. The driver, whose name was not released, was not injured and tried to save Shearer by giving him CPR in the gas station parking lot, deputies said.
Shearer died of his injuries before rescue arrived. Levo had surgery Monday and is expected to recover. He remained hospitalized Tuesday.
Johnson, Schreffler and Coleman, who are each charged with felony murder and robbery, made their first court appearances Monday morning and were each denied bond. They will be arraigned Aug. 12.
Coleman and Schreffler, who are a couple, live in the house where the shooting occurred, deputies said.
Schreffler, who was visibly upset and wiped away tears during as she spoke to judges Monday morning, is on suicide watch, deputies said. She has no criminal history in Clay County.
Johnson has an extensive arrest history and was recently released from prison. His prior arrests include charges of cocaine possession, sale of an altered firearm and home invasion.
The home invasion conviction landed Johnson in prison for seven years. He was released in April.
McNabb has prior arrests for conspiracy to commit armed robbery, for which he served six months in jail, and twice for possession of marijuana.
Coleman has prior arrests for burglary, criminal mischief and three times for petit theft.
Coleman's father, who asked to be identified only as Robert, said he does not believe his son pulled the trigger. He said he was sick and disgusted over Shearer's killing.
Robert said Coleman has had problems, but he has never been violent, and he "made a huge mistake but did not pull the trigger."
Clay County detectives said they believe they have identified everyone involved in the robbery and shooting and will review the case with the State Attorney's Office this week.