Carldarius Darius Patrick, a 16-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on June 8, 2015, in Orlando, Florida. Carldarius was a sophomore at Jones High School and the youngest of eight children. On the evening of his death, he was sitting on a car between his mother's apartment and his sister's unit at the Ivey on the Lake apartment complex. Gunfire erupted, and Carldarius was struck in the head while likely attempting to flee the scene.
His mother, LaRossa Smith, found him with a strong heartbeat but severely injured. Despite efforts by paramedics to revive him on the way to Orlando Regional Medical Center, Carldarius was declared brain dead upon arrival and subsequently taken off life support.
The investigation into Carldarius' death revealed that the gunman fired shots from the sunroof of a moving vehicle. The shooter, described as shirtless and hanging out of the sunroof of a silver sedan, targeted a large group of people, resulting in Carldarius being fatally wounded. The Orlando Police Department has not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the shooting. The case remains unsolved, and the community continues to seek justice for Carldarius.
In the aftermath of his death, Carldarius' family and friends held a vigil at the apartment complex where he was shot. Over 100 people gathered to honor his memory, wearing black T-shirts with the message "Until we meet again R.I.P. Carldarius." They prayed for an end to violence in their community and released balloons into the air while chanting "Justice! Justice! Justice!" Carldarius' mother described him as an innocent victim who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, emphasizing that he was never involved in any trouble and was always with his family.
The community's outpouring of support highlights the impact of Carldarius' death on those who knew him. His family continues to mourn the loss of their beloved son and brother, while the search for answers and justice remains ongoing. The case underscores the broader issue of gun violence in Orlando and the need for continued efforts to address and prevent such tragedies.
