Daniel Rodriguez Lopez, a 17-year-old Hispanic male, was known to his family and friends as "Danny Boi." Born and raised in Arcadia, Florida, he was remembered as a loving, caring, and silly young man who would always light up a room. He enjoyed playing basketball, fishing, listening to music, and spending time with his family. His mother, Stephanie Castro, and stepfather, Pedro Castro, recalled how he was always making people laugh.
“He’s always putting a smile on people’s faces,” his stepfather said. “It’s just a spark. Now, it’s much harder.”
On the night of February 4, 2023, Daniel was at the DeSoto County Fair in Arcadia when a fight broke out. During the altercation, Daniel was shot. First responders found him with a gunshot wound to the chest, and he was rushed to a hospital, where he died from his injury. The shooting sent people running for their lives and left the tight-knit community in shock.
The Arcadia Police Department began an immediate investigation. With help from community members who came forward with information, authorities identified a 15-year-old acquaintance of Daniel’s, Ryan Watson Jr., as the person who pulled the trigger. On February 8, 2023, just four days after the shooting, police executed a search warrant and located Watson at his uncle’s house, where he was taken into custody.
The loss devastated Daniel's family. "My life has changed," his mother said after the shooting. "My kids’ lives have changed. I’m sure anyone who’s met my son, their life will be changed." Friends and community members rallied around the family, pleading for an end to the violence that took the young man’s life.
Ryan Watson Jr. was charged as an adult. In December 2024, a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm. In February 2025, a judge sentenced Watson to life in prison for the murder, with an additional 20-year sentence to be served consecutively. Following the sentencing, Watson's defense attorney announced plans to appeal.
