Florida Teen Dies After Being Caught in the Crossfire of New Year’s Eve Shooting By Abigail Adams

A teenager reportedly has died after he was shot in Florida on New Year’s Eve.

The incident occurred just before midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 31 along North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, according to WPLG.

Police reportedly said a 17-year-old boy, identified by family as Joshua Gipson, Jr., was hospitalized after the shooting. Family said he later died.

One woman, who identified herself as a friend of Gipson’s family, said Gipson and friends were visiting Fort Lauderdale Beach on New Year’s Eve.

A witness told WPLG that the teen appeared to have been caught in the crossfire of two people who were shooting at each other.

Family reportedly believed Gipson would survive his injuries, but he ultimately died. The family friend said Gipson hoped to attend Virginia Tech next year.

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“I feel like I lost a child, and that’s not even my child,” the woman said, per WPLG. She went on to describe Gipson as “a ball of sunshine.”

The family friend said Gipson’s mother is “so distraught” and at a “loss for words” following her son’s death.

“He was a good boy, good person, a good big brother, loving, caring, everything,” the woman explained.

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Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD) or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

The FLPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.