LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Friends of a young father who was shot and killed said they’re glad someone’s been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Jeremy Yelton, 25, was killed Saturday night while he walked down a Lady Lake road.
Detectives believe he was hunted down by his girlfriend’s stepfather.
An arrest report said the suspect, Michael Cates, 48, drove down Griffin View Drive Saturday night looking for Yelton. The report said Cates had five weapons with him.
Darren Kling was like a father to Yelton, who was best friends with Kling’s son.
“I’ve had hopes and dreams for Jeremy. It destroyed me. It felt like I really lost one of my own children,” he said.
Cates was arrested Tuesday.
Darren King’s son, Timothy Kling, said he was relieved to find out the alleged shooter had been caught.
“When I got that phone call, just joy that something was being done,” he said.
Deputies said Cates was angry when he got into his car Saturday with his stepson to track down Yelton.
Yelton had been dating Cates’ stepdaughter and allegedly abused her.
The stepson told deputies when Cates saw Yelton walking he barely stopped the car before jumping out with an aluminum bat and gun in his waistband yelling, “Did you seriously beat the (expletive) out of my daughter?”
The stepson said Cates and Yelton ended up fighting on the ground, then he heard the gunshots, and Yelton was dead.
“I know us and his family don’t condone any actions. It just doesn’t give the right for somebody to go retaliate like that,” Darren Kling said.
Deputies said Cates was armed with a handgun, pocket knife and a baseball bat. They found brass knuckles in the car.
Detectives said Cates called 911 after shooing Yelton.
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