Fort Myers pastor says he baptized teen just hours before he was killed

A pastor is reacting after witnessing the baptism of a teen just hours before he was shot dead in Fort Myers.

WINK News has been following the aftermath of Sunday night’s tragic shooting in Fort Myers all week.

Sixteen-year-old De’mari Jackson was killed when he jumped in front of a bullet to save his girlfriend. Earlier that morning he’d taken the first big step in his faith.

The Rock Church of Fort Myers is where De’mari started his Sunday. He asked to be baptized.

“Obviously felt a pull of God upon his heart and on his life, and he felt that he needed to make that change that he needed to get right with God,” said Pastor Wayne Sloss, administrative pastor at the Rock Church of Fort Myers.

Pastor Sloss said God tells us to always be ready. You never know when you will live your last day. Just hours after De’mari was baptized, he died a hero.

“It shocks you when you first heard about it, it saddens you. Because you realize the scripture is so true when it says that today is the day of salvation,” said Sloss.

Sunday night De’mari was with his girlfriend walking along Franklin Street when a nearby fight turned into a shooting. De’mari took two bullets and died so his girlfriend could live.

“I reached out to a couple of family members and just, you know, they’re in their grieving stage obviously right now. And that’s, that’s tough. The best thing that we could do for them as a church body is just be there. If they need anything, then, you know, we let them know that that we’re here for,” said Sloss.

De’mari’s family said they’re not ready to talk about what happened. There are no funeral arrangements yet.

A judge ordered the suspected shooter, 19-year-old Syncere Trice, to be held in jail without bond.