shooting death of a black teenager in Jay has reignited lingering racial tensions in this closely knit community in northern Santa Rosa County.Related: Teen shot at Jay bonfire partyCorey Benjamin, 33, of Brewton, Ala., said he has never had a good impression of Jay and now that impression has been tarnished forever. Benjamin's nephew, GeTyron Benjamin, 18, died at a Brewton hospital Saturday after being shot at a party in Jay."I don't know if you are familiar with Jay, but ever since I was a little boy I've heard it always has been pretty racist over there," Corey Benjamin said.Robert Floyd, 21, of the 3400 block of Country Mill Road is charged with an open count of murder in GeTyron Benjamin's death. He was being held without bond Sunday night at Santa Rosa County Jail.The shooting prompted more than 200 comments on the community Web site, NorthEscambia.com, and nearly 100 comments on pnj.com. The mix of comments ranged from those defending Floyd and others claiming the shooting is indicative of racial tensions in Jay.GeTyron Benjamin, a T.R. Miller High School graduate, was one of four young people from Brewton - two blacks and two whites - who showed up at bonfire party held in a field outside Floyd's home.Investigators said an argument occurred between Floyd, who is white, and one of the black men from Brewton.Floyd told investigators that the men were not invited. Floyd told them to leave, and apparently shoved one of the black males when they refused, investigators said.Assistant State Attorney James Parker said as Benjamin and his friends drove down the long dirt driveway toward the highway, Floyd ran to his truck, grabbed a rifle and fired five shots at the rear of the vehicle.Parker said two of the shots struck the vehicle - one ripping through a speaker box and hitting Benjamin, who was in the back seat.Floyd later told investigators that one of the black men pulled out a handgun during the argument. He also said he heard gunshots and saw a muzzle flash coming from the direction of their car as they were leaving.The passengers in the vehicle told investigators that none of them produced a gun during the incident.Corey Benjamin said he heard about what happened at the bonfire from one of the other people in the car.He said while he wasn't told that any racist language was used when his nephew was told to leave the party, he believes his nephew and his black friend were asked to leave because of their race."I don't really see it as being a coincidence that they would just single out those two out of all the people at the party," Corey Benjamin said. "But that's a good point. Who's to say that it was racist? But that's just how people are going to take it around here being that it was in Jay."The Rev. H.K. Matthews of Brewton, a longtime civil rights leader, said he doesn't know if the shooting was racially motivated."With him shooting blindly into that car, he could have shot one of the white kids in the car," Matthews said.Matthews said there was a time when blacks were afraid to travel through Jay."We can not put a stamp on Jay," he said. "There are people in Jay who are decent, law-abiding citizens - the bulk of them I would imagine," he said.At the home where the shooting happened, a no trespassing sign was posted at the beginning of the driveway on Sunday. A deputy was posted along the driveway keeping an eye on things.Residents who live along Country Mill Road said what happened early Saturday morning was quite unusual for the area.Gunfire can be heard in the area, but it's usually people hunting, they said.Country Mill Road is a long and winding road with open fields, trees and homes - some miles apart."People hunt, people fish, and they work hard," Elaine Woerner said. "I am sure there are bad eggs everywhere, but we have been very fortunate."She and her husband are fixing up a house on Country Mill Road and plan to make it their retirement home."I'm from the country, so I like this," said Woerner, 60, of Lancaster, Pa. "We have had nothing but good experiences here. People work, they keep their heads down and keep going. We have been well received here."Charles Smith, 70, has lived on Country Mill Road for 10 years. He moved to Jay from Hershey, Pa., after retiring from the city's signature chocolate factory.Smith said he has heard Jay has a troubled racial past, but that is not the Jay he knows today."Since I have been here, I have really enjoyed it," he said. "I think this is a great town. I have heard there are a lot of stories, but I don't pay attention to stories."Debra Bond, 52, of Jay said the area is usually peaceful, and it's the kind of place you would want to raise a family.Bond said she can hardly believe the things she has heard about the shooting."I really don't even know how to say it: Kids need to get along no matter what color they are," she said./>
