Mom of alleged shooter in domestic incident speaks

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A man is in jail, accused of killing a neighbor. The man's mother describes her son as a "good kid," and "not a criminal."

Jonathan Velasquez, 24, was visiting his girlfriend and baby in Kissimmee, when he saw a couple arguing, according to his mother, Rosaura Ventos.  Deputies say Velasquez went inside and got his gun, fearing the argument would escalate.  A short while later, Robert Gray, 38, would be dead from a gunshot wound.

According to the arrest warrant, Velasquez says he saw Gray's girlfriend slap him.  Gray then smashed the glass door to go inside, but that's when Velasquez fired a shot into the ground, the report reads.  As Gray walked towards him, Velasquez told deputies he shot Gray.

"I've been though domestic violence myself. He does not like it. He hates it," Ventos explains. "He must have just wanted to help. I don't think it was his intention to kill anybody."  

Ventos says her son was affected after seeing her deal with domestic violence.

"He's traumatized. That's what it is. He's never been in any sort of trouble or nothing."

Rosaura says she feels for Gray's family as they mourn his loss.

"It hurts me to see the other person lost his son, his child. His children lost his parent, but it could have been prevented by not taking your business outside and scream and yell for help," she says. 

Gray's mother told FOX 35 that Velasquez should have called 911 and allowed authorities handle a domestic dispute, instead of getting involved.

"My son, he's a very kind loving person he never hurt nobody," Ventos says. "He thought he was doing the right thing, defending the person."

According to the arrest report, Velasquez admitted that he was never threatened and never saw a weapon. He took it upon himself to retrieve his gun.

His family has started a Go Fund Me account to raise money for any legal expenses.