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Family of 16-year-old killed in Mandarin shooting offering $10,000 for information

Derek Pitts was killed in a Mandarin apartment complex on Dec. 29. His aunt says detectives have been working hard on his case, but no arrests have been made.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It's been almost a month since 16-year-old Derek Pitts was shot and killed at an apartment complex in Mandarin. 

His family has raised the reward for information to $10,000. 

First Coast News spoke with Pitts' aunt, Bernadette Howarth on Zoom Thursday. 

She said detectives are working hard, but no arrests have been made. 

“I think with this reward, and it being anonymous, I really hope all these kids that were supposedly there shouldn’t be afraid to come forward," she said. "Justice for Dibbs, that’s all we want is justice.”

Four days after Christmas at the Coopers Hawk Apartments off Old St. Augustine Road.

Pitts was a party with a group of kids. 

"There was supposedly some argument or disagreement and the people left.” Howarth said the group eventually returned. “Whoever the person is who did this shot towards where my nephew and other people were one bullet hit him and killed him."

Feb. 1 would have been Pitts' 17th birthday. 

“We called him "Dibbs" his father gave him that nickname when he was a baby I don’t really know where it came from, but it stuck just a joyful funny kid," Howarth said. 

“We’re never going to know what he would have turned out as, as an adult."

If you have any information about the death of Derek Pitts can call JSO's non-emergency number at 904-630-0500 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.

    

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