Family mourns young father killed in July 4 shooting in Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama (WKRG) — Family and friends are preparing for the funeral of a young father. 22-year-old DaShaun Bonner was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Mobile shopping center on July 4.

DaShaun Bonner had two young children and was planning to celebrate his birthday at the end of the month. His life ended on July 4 when he was shot in the parking lot of the Academy Sports + Outdoors at the Festival Center in Mobile.

“I’m overwhelmed that it happened, but I never expected this. Nothing like this has ever happened and I miss my cousin very much; it’s crazy how everything turned out,” said Bonner’s cousin Benjamin Smith.

Smith says he was with Bonner when he was shot. He says someone broke into his car while they were in the store, and they came back to get the security camera video when someone drove up to them and opened fire.

“He just loved everybody. He was a family man. He played basketball. He just wanted the best for everybody,” Smith said. “It makes me angry and it makes me even more scared because I don’t expect something like this to happen in the world.”

“But I didn’t expect this to happen to us because we’re not in there. We’re not arguing with anyone.”

Questions remain about what happened in the Festival Centre car park on July 4 and who is responsible.

“It hurt. You know, I can’t even pretend it didn’t. But you just have to accept the things that happen in life,” said the victim’s brother, DeAndre Bonner.

There is little information about what happened. Police have only released a picture of a minor wanted in connection with the shooting, but no arrests have been made.

The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses.