Akeem Moore, a 31-year-old Florida pastor, was shot and killed by a man who mistook Moore’s girlfriend for another woman, police say. Moore and his girlfriend, Loren Wilder, 30, were sitting in his car outside her home after a date early in the morning on Sept. 27 when Hugh Milner Jr., 38, walked up about 12:30 a.m. and started shouting at them, prosecutors say.
Milner was charged with first-degree murder with a firearm, attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Moore was minister of worship at Mount Calvary Baptist Church of West Palm Beach and served in its social media, technology and evangelistic outreach ministries, the church said in a statement signed by its senior pastor, Bishop W. Oshea Granger.
"Akeem is known for his steadfast dedication to our ministry and as a sound, inspiring preacher of the Gospel," the church statement reads. "His commitment was evident in his disciplined studies, dedication in service, and devoted stewardship of all God entrusted to him during his brief life." Milner used to date Wilder’s older sister, Shavon Wilder, 39, and believed she was the woman in the passenger seat.
West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo said during a news conference that Milner came to the passenger side, hit the window and pulled a gun from his waistband. Wilder recognized him and immediately realized he had the wrong people, the chief said. Wilder told police that Milner called out from beside the car, “Is this what we are doing now?” She also said he had sent Shavon threatening texts shortly before, according to CBS 12.
Milner aimed the handgun at the vehicle, according to the criminal complaint. Moore lowered his window and told him the woman beside him was not Shavon, police said.