Background: The scene of the May 30 shooting in Florida”s Marion County (WCJB). Inset (left): Nosiah Santos (GoFundMe). Inset (right): Henry Jonathan Valencia (Marion County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida man faces murder charges after police said he allegedly shot his boyfriend at a gas station, reportedly because the victim — a teenager — was attempting to end the relationship.
Henry Jonathan Valencia, 23, is in custody at the Marion County Jail where he is being held without bond. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced his arrest in a Facebook post on Monday, which followed an investigation into the May 30 shooting death of 17-year-old Nosiah Santos. Police said that the man and the teenager were in a relationship and arrived at a Petro gas station in the same vehicle. A verbal argument between the two escalated when Valencia allegedly pulled a gun on Santos and shot him before driving away.
In an interview with local Fox affiliate WOFL, Santos’ mother said she was on the phone with her son during the whole fight and during the final moments of his life.
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Lydia Albino, whose age was not provided, spoke to WOFL about what she heard when her teenage son called her on the afternoon of May 30. Albino told the outlet that Santos called her during his argument with Valencia and asked her to come pick him up at the gas station and bring him home.
But while Albino was on the phone with her son, she said she heard Valencia in the background. She said, “He’s telling this man, who is older than him, ‘I don’t want to be with you no more. I’m only 17. This is too much emotional distress. My mom’s on her way to come get me,’ and he just kept repetitively telling this man, and this man’s like, ‘Get in the car. Let’s go. You have to come back with me.’ They were on their way to Jacksonville.”
The worried mother had rushed to the gas station, only to find her son on the ground with a gunshot wound. She told WOFL, “I couldn’t recognize his face. I started asking, is he alive? They wouldn’t tell me anything.”
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Police said that Santos was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Valencia had already allegedly fled the scene and was on his way to Jacksonville, Florida.
According to the sheriff’s office, Valencia reportedly became upset that Santos was “messaging other men.” Valencia reportedly drove away from the gas station, leaving Santos there, but turned around and came back to continue the argument after parking his car. When Santos seemingly “disengaged,” Valencia allegedly shot him. Valencia then allegedly “struck Santos several times in the head” as a final blow before getting back into his car and driving to Jacksonville.
Valencia was arrested in Jacksonville on Friday. He was charged with second-degree murder and is in custody at the Marion County Jail where he is being held without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 12.
