Benjamin Howard, a 23-year-old male from Ocala, FL, tragically lost his life on June 2, 2013. Benjamin, along with two other victims, Josue Santiago (25) and Jerry Bynes Jr. (20), was shot to death outside AJ's bar in downtown Ocala. The incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. as the men were leaving the establishment. The shooter, identified as Andrew Lobban, was an acquaintance and co-worker of the victims. Lobban, 31, worked with the victims as a bouncer at the Ocala Entertainment Complex.
The motive behind the shooting was reportedly a prank that the victims had played on Lobban during a recent trip to a local gun range. The prank involved giving Lobban the wrong ammunition for his gun and videotaping his struggle to load and shoot the weapon. Lobban, feeling humiliated and resentful, admitted to the police that he shot the men in retaliation.
The investigation revealed that Lobban had planned the killings, as he confided to a friend that he was "sorry" for what he was about to do. On the night of the incident, Lobban shot the victims at point-blank range and then fled the scene, discarding the gun in a nearby trash can. The police later recovered the weapon. Lobban was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. During his trial, he pleaded guilty to the charges and accepted a plea agreement that resulted in three concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole. The state had initially sought the death penalty but agreed to the life term as part of the plea deal.
The deaths of Benjamin Howard, Josue Santiago, and Jerry Bynes Jr. had a profound impact on the Ocala community. Friends, family, and fellow bouncers described the victims as close-knit and supportive of one another. The emotional toll of the tragedy was evident during the sentencing hearing, where many spoke about the pain and anger they felt. The community held a candlelight vigil to remember the victims and called for healing and unity in the wake of the senseless violence.
