KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A man was arrested on allegations of shooting and killing the son of Osceola High School’s football coach, Kissimmee police said.
Police say they arrested Jaquari Walker, 22, on last week on armed robbery charges.
During an interview with police in jail, detectives said Walker admitted to being involved in the shooting of Eric Pinellas Jr., 30.
Pinellas was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Jan. 11 in the area of Cypress Street and Bay Street.
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Pinellas was taken to a hospital, where he died.
“Eric was an amazing young man with a bright future ahead of him who was loved by many and losing him in such a way to senseless violence is incompressible,” said father Eric Pinellas Sr. “It has definitely been a rough few months for our entire family and everyone who loved him.”
Walker was considered a possible person of interest in the case, and learned he had a connection to Pinellas.
“Detectives obtained information that Walker may have been a subject of interest, therefore they began reviewing jail calls of Walker,” said Deputy Chief Betty Holland. “There was some animosity maybe for him not bonding him out of jail and he held that against Mr. Pinellas.”
Walker was arrested on March 8 for armed robbery charges out of Kissimmee.
“Walker forcibly stole a handgun 2 days prior to the homicide from two victims staying at the Apollo Inn,” said Holland.
During the interview, police said Walker admitted to knowing Pinellas, and that Pinellas had agreed to bond Walker out of jail for an arrest back in January, and gave him $200, but Pinellas never bonded him out of jail and never returned the money.
Walker told police that he and Pinellas saw each other the night of the shooting and got into a physical fight, leading to him shooting Pinellas.
The victim’s family told News 6 Eric Pinellas Jr. was on his way to his grandmother’s house when he was shot.
“He just loved his family. You know nobody is perfect in life, " said Eric Pinellas Sr.
Walker faces homicide and additional weapons charges and was being held without bond.
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