Reginald Edwin Straughter, a 24-year-old African American male from Hobe Sound, FL, was tragically shot on February 28, 2016. The incident occurred at the intersection of Southeast Florida Avenue and Southeast Anthion Way. According to court documents, Straughter was standing on the corner when Markee Deshawn Felton, also 24, approached him and began shooting. Straughter attempted to flee but was shot in the leg from behind.
He was subsequently taken to Martin Hospital South for treatment.
Felton, who has a history of felony charges, was arrested on March 16, 2016, and charged with attempted felony murder with a weapon and possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Felton later apologized to Straughter's mother, Mashalum Witherspoon, claiming that the shooting was a mistake and that Straughter was not the intended target. Felton explained that he and another man had planned to rob someone else after a craps game on the day of the shooting.
The case took a further twist when Gregory Howard, a 58-year-old man who had also apologized to Witherspoon for his involvement in the shooting, was found dead two days later along Southeast Dixie Highway. Howard's death, caused by at least one gunshot, remains under investigation, and it is unclear if it is related to Straughter's shooting.
The investigation into Straughter's shooting and the subsequent events involving Felton and Howard highlight the complexities and ongoing nature of the case. Felton's criminal history, which includes multiple felony convictions, adds another layer of complexity to the legal proceedings.
