Lehigh Acres man's friends demand answers after deadly Hendry County deputy shooting

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (WINK) — Friends of Edward Young Jr. are speaking out after the Lehigh Acres man was shot and killed by a Hendry County deputy during the weekend.

The Hendry County Sheriff's Office says the circumstances surrounding the shooting are being investigated. Friends of Young Jr. said they were shocked to learn of his death and are at a loss for words after learning he died following a deputy-involved shooting.

"Never been an aggressive type of person at all. So just kind of threw me for a loop," said Demetric Page, a family friend.

"I called one of my good friends to kind of confirm it, and my worst nightmare came true," said Alex McLeod, a former co-worker.

READ MORE: Lehigh Acres man dies after shooting involving Hendry County deputies on SR-29

McLeod and Young Jr. worked together for four years as chefs at the Coconut Point Hyatt. McLeod said Young Jr. was one of the nicest people you could ever meet and was pushing to own a taco truck one day.

"He was so passionate, and the thing that I loved most was that he wanted to, uh, venture out and start his own thing," McLeod said.

Page said Young Jr. was trying to be the best version of himself and spread kindness to people who met him. Young Jr.'s friends told WINK News they didn't know why he would be in Hendry County, but said he had just started a taco business that he would travel for.

"He always spoke to me with respect, spoke to everybody else with respect. So it was just, it's just mind-blowing to hear this," Page said.

Both friends said they want the deputy-involved shooting thoroughly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The FDLE is investigating the use of deadly force at the request of the Hendry County Sheriff's Office.

"Losing any friend in that matter is shocking Like, I'm just waiting for whatever happens, happens. Luckily, I think the investigation's in good hands, and we'll get answers, and I feel like that's what we all deserve," McLeod said.

"In the Black community, I just feel like we just don't get the proper respect as any other community. So I just want, I just really want them to dig deep into it," Page said.

The FDLE said in a statement that, at the request of the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, the FDLE is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that took place near State Road 29 and Case Road in LaBelle last Saturday evening. FDLE’s investigation is limited to the use of force. The investigation remains active, therefore additional information will not be provided at this time.

Ed Obayashi, a deadly force expert, says this type of investigation is normal, especially for smaller offices. These investigations are the most complex investigations that an investigator can face.

"No single investigator has the skill to address all the disciplines that are required to conduct such an investigation," Obayashi said. " Involvement with small agencies, they all know each other, so it becomes too personal, and you don't want that appearance of bias, favoritism, et cetera. So this is not an unusual request by any means."

Obayashi said investigators have to continue to collect evidence and present their findings for a legal review, where it will be decided if the deputy used deadly force in self-defense, in the defense of others, or not. These investigations can take months if not years.