Thousands mourn at candlelight vigil for Florida wildlife officer who was shot and killed
LABELLE, Fla. – Thousands of mourners lit candles Wednesday evening in LaBelle, Florida, to honor the life of Julian Keen Jr., a state wildlife officer fatally shot Sunday when investigators say he attempted to intervene after spotting a reckless driver.
Keen, 30, nicknamed "Man" and "Batman" in life, has come to be known as LaBelle's son, a high school football star and homecoming king turned alligator wrestler turned community pillar.
"I've been sheriff of this county for going on 12 years and unfortunately, I've seen a lot of death. I've never seen anything like this," said Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden before the crowd that filled Barron Park in the town of about 5,500. "Julian brought this community together like no one I've ever seen.
"Julian was a truly special individual."
Residents of the small southwest Florida town took Keen in after he moved from Immokalee. Keen's relatives described his early years as part of loving households of matriarchs. In adulthood, he paid that forward by mentoring local boys and training young athletes, friends said.
Since his death, many who knew Keen have adopted the hashtag #BeLikeJulian, which was printed on hats at the vigil.
Near the end of the vigil, a man approached the microphone. He paused, overcome with emotion, and struggled to speak. It was Patrick O'Bannon, the high school football coach who identified as a father to Keen.
Keen's birth parents also attended but did not speak..
The crowd applauded O'Bannon and a group of young men, Keen's friends and former teammates, soon circled O'Bannon on the stage.
"I love everybody here. LaBelle is my hometown. These are my sons. He was my son. I had to try to get myself together to be the man my son wanted me to be. I got to be strong, for my family, my sons, my town. Thank you. Let's do better, that's all I can say."
The crowd cheered and some shouted, "We love you Patrick!"
Before the candles were extinguished, the crowd called out, "We love you, Julian!"
Law enforcement has made an arrest related to Keen's killing. On Monday, a 20-year-old LaBelle man was arrested on a charge of homicide, negligent manslaughter.
Keen's sister said the man was arrested with her brother's handcuffs.
Fort Myers News-Press reporter Mike Braun contributed to this report.
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