HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. -- Brandon High School is in mourning following the shooting death of a star basketball player.
Jayquon Johnson, 17, was identified as the victim in the shooting which took place Sunday afternoon at a house at the 4500 block of Cabbage Palm Drive in Valrico.
Johnson was the standout 6-foot-10 starting center for the Brandon High Eagles and was a member of the varsity basketball team in his freshman year, according to his MaxPreps profile.
The school posted on Twitter Monday remembering Johnson, saying "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle."
#OnceAnEagleAlwaysAnEagle We will never forget you. #SoaringHigh #23
— Brandon High School (@BrandonHSEagles) January 2, 2017
He also played American Athletic Union basketball for Team Breakdown.
2019 6'8 Jayquon Johnson averaged a double double for Team Breakdown Friday night pic.twitter.com/cf9t0xqr0k
— DEM SHOWTIME BOYZ (@ShowtimeBaller1) March 26, 2016
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office released few details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting, but our news partners at the Tampa Bay Times reported that detectives have interviewed a person who may have been the shooter as well as witnesses to the incident.
BHS varsity men's basketball coach Jaime Turner said in a press conference Tuesday that Johnson "will never be forgotten here at Brandon High School... His legacy will always last."
"He just wanted to make it and he was definitely on track to do that," Turner said.
Principal Jennifer Sparano said that the school was working with the Hillsborough County School District's Crisis Response Team had a plan in place Sunday to assist students with counseling.
"Our students have many many caring concerned adults they can go to in a proper environment to grieve. And they are grieving," Sparano said.
She added that the students and faculty have banded together to support one another during this trying time.
"Jayquon's extraordinary personality and who he was is amplified by the fact that we are very protective of each other. Eagles always look out for other eagles. Our students are taking care of each other and are very protective of the grieving process and making sure everyone has the space that they need. They are gathering, they are writing poems, they are making remarks to counselors and hugging each other. Our desire is to respect their space and maintain a family environment at Brandon High School," Sparano said.
