JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 19-year-old man was arrested and accused of murder in the shooting death of a 16-year-old that happened in Mandarin in December 2023, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Colton Moore, who was already in custody on unrelated charges, has now been charged with the murder of 16-year-old Derek Pitts, according to police.
Pitts was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Coopers Hawk Apartment homes on Old St Augustine Road on Dec. 30, 2023.
For weeks, Pitts’ family has been looking for answers and they finally got them after the arrest of Moore.
“I definitely think that having a name and a face to put our anger towards is definitely a different emotion than the nightmare that we’ve been going through for the last eight weeks,” Theresa Pitts, Derek’s sister said.
His stepdad Michael Shirley said they weren’t going to have closure until he’s sentenced.
“We’re not going to have the closure we want until we know he’s gonna be in jail for a long time,” Shirley said.
His sister and mother said it’s been horrific since losing Derek.
“I mean, it’s been a nightmare. Something was taken from us that we’re never getting back. And he was just a great kid,” Theresa Pitts and Buckley said.
Last month, News4JAX spoke to Pitts’ aunt, Bernardette Howarth, who said the 16-year-old had a “vibrant spirit.”
“Derek was an avid Philly sports fan. He absolutely loved baseball, football,” Howarth said. “He loved cars, driving around, shopping with his sister. He was just a funny kid. He never liked when people were upset. He always tried to make people laugh.”
Derek Pitts was killed at a party in Mandarin in December 2023.
JSO said there was a large party that happened at a different location nearby but the party moved to that apartment complex. Police said there was a fight that broke out between two groups when someone pulled out a gun and started shooting.
At least 10 shots were fired, and Pitts was hit by one.
He died at the hospital.
During the homicide investigation, detectives received several First Coast Crime Stoppers tips, which ultimately led them to identify Moore as the suspect, JSO said.
The family said they are thankful to JSO and the community for helping in Derek’s case. They encourage anyone with information in any case to call CrimeStoppers.
“My family is just broken and you know, there’s a piece of us that’s missing that. No matter what, like we’re going to be feeling that and we’re going to be missing him for the rest of our lives,” Buckley said.