TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The quiet of Wednesday afternoon was shattered in the 5700 block of Aenon Church Trail when a young man, beloved by his community, was fatally shot in what local authorities now call a life taken too soon.
Around 12:30 p.m., deputies from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire in the area. When they arrived, they found a vehicle stopped in the road, and inside was 26-year-old Lakeboy Vito, suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies attempted to perform life-saving measures on the spot, but Vito was pronounced dead at approximately 12:48 p.m.
From the outset, investigators treated the case as a homicide. Within hours, they had identified 34-year-old Trevon Cloud as the suspect. Cloud had already fled the scene, but thanks to coordinated efforts with the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement tracked him down and arrested him in Gadsden County. He is now in custody at the Leon County Detention Facility, charged with second-degree murder.
Sheriff Walt McNeil addressed the press, commending the swift, interagency cooperation that helped bring the suspect in. “We’re grateful for the swift teamwork with the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, whose help was instrumental in locating and safely taking the suspect into custody,” he said. He also emphasized that tragedies like this remind us how essential strong partnerships across law enforcement agencies really are.
News of Vito’s death has sent ripples of grief through his family, circle of friends, and the broader Tallahassee community. Those who knew him remember him as humble, kind, fiercely loyal—and someone who never failed to greet others with a smile. His loss has been described as a hole in the fabric of lives he touched, one that no gesture or memorial can truly fill.
As the investigation presses on, authorities are calling on anyone who may have witnessed something or has additional information to come forward. There is, among neighbors and locals, a growing urgency that justice not only be done, but be seen to heal some of the anguish left behind.
Lakeboy Vito’s story is a stark reminder of lives cut short, of communities shaken, and of the importance of memory. He may be gone, but the light he carried—through friendships, integrity, and everyday kindness—will live on in those who loved him.