Local
Gainesville family remembers Navy veteran killed by stray gunfire outside Walmart
James McDaniel, 81, was riding his mobility scooter from a Gainesville Walmart when gunfire struck him during a confrontation in the parking lot. His family remembers him as a loving father and says one teenager has been arrested while another suspect remains at large.
James McDaniel was leaving a Gainesville Walmart on his mobility scooter Wednesday night when he was struck by gunfire during a confrontation in the store’s parking lot, police said. The 81-year-old was not involved in the dispute and later died.
Gainesville police said a fight inside the store moved outside, where two teenagers opened fire on a group of men. McDaniel was hit elsewhere in the parking lot, police said.
One teenager has been arrested and charged with McDaniel’s murder, and a second suspect remains at large, according to police.
McDaniel was a Navy veteran, a former postal employee and a great-grandfather. His son, Ted McDaniel, remembered him as a fun, loving person who made sure his family knew he cared for them.
Ted McDaniel said his father’s death was difficult to accept, adding that the consequences of the suspects’ actions took his father’s life. James McDaniel’s wife, Gloria, said she feels sympathy for the suspects’ parents, while also saying those responsible should be punished.
The couple had been married nearly 60 years. An online fundraiser has been established to support the family.