Akeem Elijah Moore, a gifted 31-year-old male minister, musician, and educator, was a man who dedicated his life to his faith and community. Known as a "gentle giant" by friends, Akeem served as the Minister of Worship at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he was also a member of the Evangelistic Outreach, Technology, and Social Media Ministries.
His church remembered him as a "sound and inspiring preacher of the Gospel" whose commitment was shown through his discipline, service, and devotion. Akeem was pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University and was a member of Kappa Alpha Phi. Family and friends recalled that his calling was evident from a young age, when his grandfather would call him "Preacher." His uncle, Willie J. Webb Sr., said Akeem had been walking the streets to bring people to church since he was a kid.
The night he was killed was supposed to end a date with his girlfriend of more than a year, Loren Wilder. On September 27, 2026, around 12:30 a.m., Akeem and Loren were sitting in his parked car outside her home in the 500 block of Ontario Place in West Palm Beach. A man approached the passenger side of the vehicle and began banging on the window. Loren recognized him as Hugh Earp Milner Jr., the 38-year-old ex-boyfriend of her older sister, and believed he had mistaken her for his ex. Milner then pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at them.
Akeem rolled down the window and tried to explain the mistake, yelling, "Hey man, this [is] not Shavon." He put the car in reverse to get away, but Milner opened fire, shooting at the car as it drove off. Akeem told his girlfriend he thought he had been shot after seeing blood on his back. Despite his mortal wound, Akeem's final act was one of heroism. He drove his girlfriend to the safety of West Palm Beach Fire Station 5, about a mile away, where they called 911. From there, he was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Loren Wilder was not physically harmed but told investigators she feared Milner had come to kill her sister and, after the confusion, her.
The West Palm Beach Police Department, led by Chief Tony Araujo, launched an immediate investigation. The department’s ShotSpotter system had already alerted officers to the gunfire before the 911 call came in. Investigators identified the suspect's vehicle, a black Hyundai Elantra, and used Flock license plate reader technology to track it south into Broward County. With the assistance of the Broward County Sheriff's Office, Hugh Earp Milner Jr. was located, and arrested later the same day. Chief Araujo called Akeem a hero for his selfless actions. "Even after being shot, he acted selflessly and courageously, driving his passenger to safety at a nearby fire station," Araujo said at a press conference.
Hugh Earp Milner Jr. was extradited to Palm Beach County on September 30, 2026. He was charged with first-degree murder with a firearm, attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. As of October 2026, he was being held in the Palm Beach County Jail. The case is in the litigation stage, with Milner facing charges that could carry a sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty under Florida law.
Akeem's death was a profound loss for his family and the wider community. His aunt, Meloyde Webb, said, "I want him to be remembered not how he died but how he lived. He lived a good life. He lived a life according to the will of God." [cw34.com] His uncle added, "Lives will be changed because of his living. His life was not in vain." A viewing was held on October 9, 2026, at Greater Bethel Primitive Baptist Church in Riviera Beach, followed by a Celebration of Life service the next day at his home church, Mount Calvary Baptist Church. In a tribute, his family wrote, "His music will echo. His songs will be remembered. His teaching will live in those he instructed."
The investigation into Akeem Moore's death is ongoing. As of the latest reports in October 2026, the case was proceeding through the court system. Police have asked anyone with information to contact the West Palm Beach Police Department or Palm Beach County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477).
