JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man who was found dead in the street in the Riverside area Saturday was weeks away from celebrating his 28th birthday, his friends said.
Three friends confirmed to First Coast News the victim is Keenan Sparks.
Officers responded to Sydney Street in Riverside around 6:30 a.m. Saturday to reports of an unresponsive man lying on the side of the road, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
JSO asked for help identifying Sparks over the weekend, posting pictures of his tattoos and providing a physical description. Pictures of Sparks given to First Coast News by friends confirm that the tattoos match.
Austin Young, a friend of Sparks, said he was kind and could talk to anyone.
"Anywhere he ever went, people gravitated with him," Young said. "He had a pure and just heart. He always saw the best in people. He always came without judgment."
Young said their group of friends was like family.
"He was an only child, outside of us few boys that would spend every daylight hour with him at his parent's house," Young said. He says he worries for Sparks' parents. "They are now alone, and I just can't imagine."
Amy Alvarez, another friend of Sparks', said he was always eager to help everyone.
"We lost a wonderful soul," she said. "Keenan would never hurt anyone. He was a tough guy that would give the shirt off his back for anybody. A couple of us used to call him a teddy bear," Alvarez said.
Investigators are looking for a suspect. FCN reached out to JSO for an update Monday and are waiting to hear back.
“They took away one of the best people I know., and they took a part of me and a part of rest of his friends away too. And I want them to know that. I know the police department will get him, and when that day comes, I'm going to be sitting in that courtroom," Alvarez said.
Alvarez said Sparks had a great sense of humor too.
