Murdered New Year's Day patron at Ormond bar stands tall in the eyes of his friends with remembrances at a makeshift shrine: 'We love you Shorty'
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(Photos by Henry Frederick). Hope Tinsley-Whitford, 42, of Ormond Beach, pays her respects by kneeling before a make-shift shrine at the Rockin' Ranch in Ormond Beach for New Year's Day murder victim Keith "Shorty" Roberts, 36, of South Daytona. He tried to flee from the alleged gunman, Christian Pursley, 37, of Ormond Beach. With the victim in his pick-up truck was Pursley's estranged wife, Shannon. In the inset photo is a picture of Roberts with an unidentified friend. Out of respect for her grieving, VolusiaNews.Net honored Tinsley-Whitford's request not to show her face.
ORMOND BEACH -- Hope Tinsley-Whitford never got her hug from Keith "Shorty" Roberts, who had promised her husband during a New Year's party at the Rockin' Ranch that he would stop by on the way home and wish her a "Happy New Year's" because she was too sick to go out and celebrate.
What was to be a gateway to a prosperous 2011, instead turned into a living hell at 2:30 a.m. Saturday with Roberts' pick-up truck sprayed with gunfire by his alleged killer, 37-year-old Christian Pursley, armed with a handgun.
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(Courtesy photos). The Facebook profile for accused killer Christian Pursley has postings of photos of his wedding with estranged wife, Shannon Pursley, him holding a bloody carving knife. He's been charged with attempted murder of his wife and first-degree murder of her friend, Keith "Shorty" Roberts of South Daytona, who was shot to death New Year's at the Rockin' Ranch as the victim and Pursley's wife tried to get away as he opened fire, according to Ormond Beach police.
(Courtesy photo). Martha Wheeler was named "Volunteer of the Year" at New Smyrna Beach Middle School in February for investing in the lives of children at the school.
(Courtesy photo) Farrion LaChantz, as shown here in an unrelated booking photo two years ago, was shot twice Sunday, Sept. 20, and is not cooperating with police. He was reported in stable condition Monday at Bert Fish for a wound to his stomach area, police said.