Malachi Lancaster Obituary, Death; – Friends and family are grieving the tragic loss of a high school football player from Florida, who died in a hunting accident on Sunday. According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, 911 callers reported that an 18-year-old had been shot on Williston Road, located just south of Gainesville.
The callers characterized the incident as a hunting accident. The victim has been identified by friends and family as Malachi Lancaster, a senior football player at Newberry High School. School officials confirmed that Malachi was crowned this year’s homecoming king. His parents, Joel and Sophie Lancaster, who serve as pastors at Activate Church, released a statement on social media.
“With heavy hearts, we share the news of the passing of our beloved son, Malachi Lancaster,” the family expressed in part. Gary Bracewell, pastor at Christian Life Fellowship Church, had known Malachi Lancaster for a decade and spoke with the family following the incident.
“The family was out of town when this occurred and was returning to Gainesville when they reached out to me to meet them at the hospital,” Bracewell recounted. “Malachi was an exceptional young man, brimming with love and a sense of adventure. He was an entrepreneur, embodying maturity beyond his years.”
A fundraiser has been established to assist the Lancaster family during this challenging time. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is currently investigating the shooting. “Initial reports suggest that the firearm was discharged accidentally. The victim was taken to Shands Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victim during this trying period,” stated investigators.
