Graduation Night Shooting: Mom: Victim And Suspect Were Friends

AVON PARK - Graduation night shooting victim Dwight Hankerson, 18, of Sebring, and his shooting suspect, Antwan Leon Jones, 18, of Avon Park, had been friends in the months prior to the shooting, according to Amina Mathis, the victim's mother.

"He's been at my house before as a friend of Dwight," Mathis said late Monday.
Hankerson used to date Jones' sister, Mathis said.

"They broke up or something. I don't know any details," she added.

Mathis said she didn't understand the motive behind the alleged shooting.

"I really don't understand that. They were friends and then he tries to take his life."
Hankerson remained in stable condition Wednesday, according to his uncle Alakhir Daniels. He was out of the intensive care unit.

"The bullet passed a couple of inches from his heart," he said.

Daniels explained that his nephew was just hanging around at home Saturday night with no plans of going out. He just completed his junior year.
"His friends came and encouraged him to go out
," Daniels added.
"They said, 'come on, it's graduation night.' So he went out with them. He left with his flip-flops, I heard. He didn't even have on shoes to party in."

The shooting occurred near the corner of East Hal McRae Boulevard and South Delaney Avenue, in Avon Park, according to police.

Hankerson was shot early Saturday morning about an hour after the Friday night graduation dance ended at the former Hopewell Academy, according to Avon Park Police Cmdr. Michael J. Rowan.
Jones was in police custody Monday afternoon, charged with attempted second-degree murder after coming to the police headquarters on his own accord, Rowan said.

Jones cooperated with the investigation when he led police to his girlfriend's house, where the gun was recovered.

According to a previous report, it was about 1:11 a.m. Saturday when police received a 911 call about shots being fired in the area of East Hal McRae and South Delaney. Minutes later, police investigators were called to Florida Hospital's emergency room at about 1:19 a.m. Saturday, in response to notification it was working on a gunshot victim.

According to police, the pair had been arguing for about a month prior to the dance. The situation heated up again when both Hankerson and Jones showed up at the dance.

"There was some indirect contact through friends that there were still some tensions going on," Rowan said.

According to Daniels, some of the tension stemmed from confrontations between Jones and Hankerson's younger brother. Then there was a second confrontation.

"Jones' brother had fussed with Dwight," Daniels said. "Dwight didn't want to get into it and let it alone."
When the dance let out after midnight Hankerson and Jones found themselves standing in the same crowd at East Hal McRae and South Delaney, Rowan said.

"We're not sure of the size of the crowd or how far apart they were," Rowan said in a previous report. "It is undetermined how many shots were fired (between two to four). The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen with an entrance wound and an exit wound."

Hankerson underwent surgery on Sunday. His spleen was removed, Mathis said.

"He's strong," she said. "He's up and getting into a chair."

Although it did not appear his spine was hit, he was complaining of severe pain in his back, she said.
She was concerned because her son was running a high fever. She was hoping for some help from the community to cover the rising medical bills.

Rowan said there is a compensation fund offered by the state to victims of violent crimes. It was not clear to what extent the fund would help.