17-year-old boy died after his 23-year-old boyfriend he didn’t want to remain in a relationship with anymore, pulled out a gun following an argument and shot him to death
Florida – In a deeply tragic case from Florida, a 17-year-old boy, identified as N. Santos, lost his life after an argument with his 23-year-old boyfriend, identified as H. Valencia, turned deadly. Authorities say the teen had tried to end the relationship, but his older partner responded with fatal violence. Valencia now faces charges of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Santos. Valencia is being held at the county jail without bond, and his arraignment is set for August 12.
According to the sheriff’s office, Santos and Valencia drove together to a gas station on May 30, 2025. While at the station, the couple got into a heated argument inside the car. Police say the fight escalated when Valencia pulled out a gun and shot Santos before fleeing the scene. Authorities later shared that the dispute was fueled by jealousy. Valencia reportedly became upset that Santos was “messaging other men” and confronted him at the gas station.
In a heartbreaking interview with local news sources, Santos’ mother, L. Albino, described how she was on the phone with her son during his final moments. Albino said her son had called her that afternoon, asking her to come pick him up. “He’s telling this man, who is older than him, ‘I don’t want to be with you no more. I’m only 17. This is too much emotional distress. My mom’s on her way to come get me,’” she recounted. Albino rushed to the gas station, only to find her son already gravely injured. “I couldn’t recognize his face. I started asking, is he alive? They wouldn’t tell me anything,” she said.
Witnesses at the scene told police that after the argument escalated, Valencia briefly drove away from the gas station. But instead of leaving, he circled back, parked the car, and confronted Santos again. When the teen tried to disengage, Valencia allegedly shot him. To make matters worse, Valencia reportedly “struck Santos several times in the head” after shooting him, according to the sheriff’s office, before getting back into his car and fleeing.
First responders arrived quickly and rushed Santos to the hospital, but despite doctors’ efforts, the young man could not be saved. He was pronounced dead later that day, leaving his family devastated. Valencia was located and arrested on Friday, several days after the shooting. Authorities charged him with second-degree murder, and he remains in custody at the county jail without bond.
The sheriff’s office shared details of the arrest on social media, emphasizing the tragic nature of the case and urging the public to take seriously the signs of abusive or dangerous relationships. For Santos’ family, especially his mother, the grief is immeasurable. Albino described her son as overwhelmed by the relationship and simply wanting to go home to his family. “He just kept repetitively telling this man, ‘I want to go home,’” she said through tears.
The loss has also rippled through the community, with friends and neighbors mourning the sudden and senseless death of a teenager. Advocates for domestic violence prevention have pointed out that intimate partner violence does not discriminate by age or relationship type — and that young people, including LGBTQ youth, are especially vulnerable. As the legal process unfolds, Santos’ family is left grappling with their grief and searching for answers. The coming months will bring court hearings and likely a long legal battle, but for his loved ones, the pain of his loss is something they will carry for a lifetime.
