Jeremy Yelton’s mysterious death in a shooting Saturday night on Griffin View Drive, has shaken Tim Kling, his best friend, to the core.
The two became “as close as brothers” while attending The Villages Charter School, graduating in 2009.
Yelton served as Kling’s best man in his 2013 wedding.
“He was my best friend, a good person and a great daddy,” Kling said.
He admits Yelton had made mistakes, including a 2014 arrest on a charge of burglary.
“But he always wanted to do right and never stopped trying,” Kling said of his friend who died at age 25.
Kling spent a good portion of Monday making funeral arrangements for his friend.
A service will be held Saturday at
in Fruitland Park. Other arrangements are pending at Beyers Funeral Home in Lady Lake.
Yelton’s parents are traveling down from up north as a result of the sudden death of their son.
Yelton has a daughter, McKenzie, who will turn 2 in January.
A fund has been set up online to raise money to pay for Yelton’s funeral expenses. You can access that site at https://www.youcaring.com/jeremy-yelton-474102. Donations are also being accepted at Kling Towing at 2349 U.S. Hwy. 27/441 in Fruitland Park.
Yelton’s death remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Yelton, who had been a lineman for the Villages High School Buffalo football team, had been walking on Griffin View Drive shortly before midnight Saturday when he encountered an acquaintance.
A gun went off, leaving Yelton fatally wounded.
The other individual, who has not been identified by the sheriff’s office, called 911. He is said to have been cooperative with investigators.
As of Monday afternoon, the sheriff’s office indicated it had nothing new to report on the investigation.
