A well-known Florida Keys charter fishing captain was fatally shot near Orlando late last week following what police say appears to be an argument with another man over traffic.
Joseph Hall, Jr., 43, was pronounced dead at HCA Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford around 5:45 p.m. Thursday night.
Just minutes earlier, witnesses told police they saw another man, 24-year-old Jaden Harris, running after Hall at an apartment building parking lot with a handgun and shooting at him several times.
Harris, who stayed at the scene, told Sanford police officers that he was driving his white BMW sedan behind Hall’s Jeep Gladiator on South Mangoustine Avenue, and that Hall was driving very slowly. Harris told cops he passed Hall, who reacted by acting like he was going to use his Jeep to hit the BMW, according to his arrest report.
Harris told police he followed Hall to try taking a picture of his license plate. When they arrived at a Stop sign at West Seminole Boulevard and Mangoustine Avenue, Hall rolled his window down and called him an expletive for a female body part.
Harris followed Hall as he made a left turn onto West Seminole Boulevard. Hall pulled into the apartment complex on Marbella Lane, Harris told police. There, Harris told police Hall blocked the parking lot exit with his Jeep and got out of the vehicle, approaching the BMW, according to the report.
As Hall got closer to the BMW, Harris let him know that “had it on him,” meaning his gun, according to the report. He said Hall “lunged” toward the car, and that’s when he fired his first shot, the report states. Per the arrest report, when the first officer arrived and found Harris standing by his car, the cop asked him if he was the one who shot Hall. He responded, “I had to because he was blocking me in,” the report states.
After detectives asked Harris to tell them more about what was said before he opened fire, he told them he wanted an attorney, so they stopped questioning him, according to the report.
Based on what witnesses told police, what Harris told them, and after viewing security camera footage from the apartment building, officers arrested him on a charge of second-degree murder. The footage did not capture the shooting, but shows Harris’ BMW rolling backwards before he catches up to it and puts the car in park. This corroborates what witnesses say, that he got out of the car and kept firing, according to the report.
Detectives said Harris “had several opportunities to disengage from pursuing Joseph but maliciously continued instead. Based on Jaden’s post Miranda interview, he never stated that at the time of the incident he was ever in fear for his life.”
Detectives also note in the report that neither Harris nor the witnesses ever said Hall was armed.
“Joseph did not cause Jaden any injury or harm to him that would justify the use of deadly force,” the report states.
A judge ordered Harris held without bond until his scheduled Oct. 7 arraignment, according to Seminole County court records.
News of Hall’s death hit the Upper Keys community hard after his wife, Devi, with whom he shares two children, posted about it via Facebook on Saturday.
“He was full of life, laughter, and love, and I am so grateful for every moment we had together,” she wrote.
Hall owned and captained the 65-foot Sailors Choice Party Fishing Boat as well as the Anglers Choice sportfishing charter boat, both based out of the mile marker 99.7 oceanside marina in Key Largo.
Tributes from loyal customers, crew and colleagues have continued to pour in to the Sailors Choice Facebook page since Hall’s death.
“We are so deeply sorry for your loss. Captain Joe touched the lives of many with his kindness, passion, and love for the water. He had a gift for making everyone feel welcome and for creating memories that families will cherish forever. His legacy will live on through every story, every smile, and every fish caught aboard Sailors’ Choice and Angler’s Choice,” the crew of the Key Largo Princess Glass Bottom Boat wrote.
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