JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The father of the man shot and killed outside Nippers Beach Grille on Thursday, Jimmy Carter, said he's thankful the community has been supportive of his family.
Investigators said Zach Tipton was involved in a fight in the parking lot that escalated, and someone pulled a gun and shot him. He died at the scene.
The shooter has not been arrested.
Carter told News4Jax that his son was not in a gang, but did recently join a motorcycle club. Carter said he is still trying to piece together what happened, but told News4Jax from what he understands, Tipton was involved in an altercation that escalated when he was trying to leave Nippers parking lot on his motorcycle.
"I understand he was shot above the eye, somewhere on the side of the head and somewhere maybe on possibly the neck. They said it was four shots fired, and I think from what I hear he was hit 3 times," said Tipoton's dad, Jimmy Carter.
Nippers hosted a fundraiser over the weekend to help Tipton's wife and children. It was one of several fundraisers that helped pay for Tipton's funeral expenses and left his wife and kids with some money to get back on their feet.
Tipton and his wife, who were Hilliard Middle-Senior High School sweethearts, started a glass window cleaning business together in Fernandina Beach.
They have three children.
"He was a great father, great father, great son, I couldn't have asked for any better," said Jimmy Carter.
Tipton's dad, Jimmy Carter (pictured below), said his son loved motorcycles, boats and was just an all-around good person, great father and son.
Carter said he's lost a lot of family members, but he's never lost a child.
"I've lost a mother, I've lost a father, I've lost a brother, I've lost a sister, but I haven't ever lost one of my kids, so it's pretty rough on me. It's different, I don't think anybody should outlive their kids, it's a sad experience to see," Carter said. "Didn't have an enemy in the world that I know of."
Tipton's viewing is Tuesday evening in Callahan. His funeral is Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Hilliard.