Page 15 - 5-1-15 Friday's Edition

Features
Alleged Son Of Slain Lottery Winner Continues His Fight For Recognition
Site Of Young Man’s Shooting Death Vandalized
JON DAVIUS SHAKESPEARE
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
In 2006, Abraham Shakespeare’s life was changed when he accepted a $17 million lump sum pay- ment as the winner of a $30 million Florida Lottery. Three years later, Shakespeare was reported missing by his family, and in 2010, his body was found buried under a concrete slab in the backyard of a per- son he trusted with his fi- nances, Dorice Donegan “Dee Dee” Moore.
Moore was later convicted of first-degree murder in Shakespeare’s death, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Shakespeare was 43.
Before Shakespeare’s death, he had discovered he had a son, Jon Davius, and was looking forward to meet- ing him for the first time. However, Moore intervened and prevented that.
Jon Davius spent his early years in various foster homes.
Jon Davius did unite with his grandmother, Shake- speare’s mother, Ms. Eliza- beth Walker.
Although there was some doubt about whether or not Jon Davius was actually Shakespeare’s son, as soon as Ms. Walker saw him, she knew there was no doubt.
“He looks so much like his daddy, it’s frightening. I just wish Abraham had lived so they could spend some time together.”
Jon Davius has been fighting against doubters since stepping forward, and said
ABRAHAM SHAKESPEARE .....murdered in 2009.
most of the opposition has come from the attorneys han- dling his dad’s estate.
“My grandmother got nothing from my dad’s estate, and we all know there was money and property left. She never even got his property re- turned to her from the Sheriff’s Office.”
Jon Davius has been fo- cusing his attention on leaving no doubt that he’s Shake- speare’s son.
“They’ve asked me to bring in all kinds of documents, and even the results of DNA test- ing. I did all of that, but the at- torneys are still blocking everything.
“It’s very frustrating when all you’re seeking is to be ac- cepted as a son. I’m not inter- ested in anything my dad left behind. Since I didn’t get the chance to spend time with him when he was alive, all I have left is his name.”
Jon Davius said he will continue to be relentless throughout the process, and will not stop until he’s legally recognized.
“From the outside looking in, people think it’s about money. It’s never been about that, and people seem to forget that there is no money as far as me and my grandmother are concerned.
“I’ve gotten a lot of support from a couple of televisions stations in the area who lis- tened to my story and put on a little broadcast.”
Ms. Walker and Jon Davius both say regardless of the outcome legally, he will al- ways be her grandson, and she will always be his grand- mother.
ANTON FISHER
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
In customary fashion, family members of Anton Fisher went to the site of where he was gunned down, and erected a memoriam in his honor. On March 2, 2015 Fisher was at the station near the gas pumps when an altercation with another per- son cost him his life.
In front of the gas station on the northwest corner of 22nd Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, family members left a cross, flowers, a photo, and other items that Fisher cherished when he was alive.
To the dismay and anger of the family, they returned to the gas station two weeks ago and discovered someone had vandalized the memoriam by removing Fisher’s photo, taking away the cross, and de- stroying the other items that had been put there in his memory.
“It’s bad enough I lost my only son, but for someone to be so mean spirited they’d do something like this is unfor- giveable, said Anton’s sister, Tameka Lewis.
“We are still trying to heal from the loss of Anton, and someone has the nerve to do something like this. What kind of person does some- thing like this? A better ques- tion is, who would allow someone to do something like this?”
Ms. Lewis said this speaks volumes of what’s happening to our young peo- ple when they don’t they value a life, but they even dis- respect you and your family in death.
“We’ve replaced every- thing that was destroyed. We can’t stay up here 24 hours a day to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We’ll just have to count on the people in the area and the business owners to make sure this doesn’t hap- pen again. And if they do see someone messing with the memorial, call the police. Anyone that would do some- thing like this needs to be in jail.”
FISHER’S MEMORIAL - BEFORE
AFTER
tire family now finds itself riding past the station every- day to make sure everything is intact.
“We’re from a very big family, and one of us is always riding past there. I did file a police report about the van- dalism and the police are pre- pared to arrest anyone who disturbs it again.”
According to officials, the man who shot Fisher, An- thony Martin, was not charged in the incident as po- lice said both he and Fisher were armed at the time. Both young men had permits to carry a firearm. The case is still being reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office.
Fisher said although they have completely restored the memoriam, once again her son’s picture is missing.
“Last Wednesday, we all went up to the station as a family and restored every- thing. The owner of the sta- tion has been receptive, but says he’s limited as to what he can do.
‘I think that store has be- come a place for young men to hangout, and I’d like to know how many of them walk in and out of the store pack- ing a gun. The store owner said he was familiar with Anton and he was a nice, re- spectful young man.”
Ms. Fisher said the en-
Anton’s mother, Denise
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-B