YULEE, Fla. – The daughter of Nassau County Deputy Eric Oliver, who died in the line of duty in 2016, visited a memorial for Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers, who was shot during a traffic stop Friday morning and died Sunday.
The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday morning posted on Facebook a photo of Shelby Oliver stopping by a memorial, which was created for Moyers outside the Sheriff’s Office building in Yulee, to place flowers on Moyers’ cruiser.
The Sheriff’s Office said she also donated $100 to the Moyers family.
Shelby is among those who have stopped by the growing memorial, which features flower bouquets, a photo of Moyers, an American flag, and signs, including one with Moyers’ badge number — 1205.
“Everybody that works for the county, we’re all brothers and sisters here, we’re all coworkers and we all have families,” said J.D. Morgan, a Nassau County electrician. “Moyers was all about the community as are most anybody else who lives here and serves on this team.”
“All these cops need to be remembered — no doubt about it,” said Jacksonville resident Gary Fogle. “The fallen cops from the past, they need to be remembered. We need to keep their memories alive.”
The Fallen: 17 local law enforcement officers line-of-duty deaths in last 9 years
Shelby’s father was killed in November 2016 when he was hit by a sport utility vehicle as he chased an El Salvadorian man who was in the United States illegally across State Road 200 after helping with a U.S. Border Patrol stop.
The man, Francisco Portillo-Fuentes, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in June and now faces up to 12 years in prison and possible deportation when he is released.
“I’d like him to know he not only ruined Eric’s daughter’s life, he also ruined a lot of innocent people’s lives,” said Oliver’s father, Doug, when Portillo-Fuentes pleaded guilty earlier this year.
At the time, he said that Oliver’s daughter had recently turned 11.
“She mentioned the other day that she misses her daddy,” Oliver’s father said. “And she really wanted to talk to him, but he’s not here, but she understands that.”
He said the family “finally got some closure” with the guilty plea and that they’re one step closer to justice.
The hope is that the arrest Tuesday of Patrick McDowell in the killing of Moyers will help bring Moyers’ family some closure.