Father of innocent bystander who was killed speaks out

LAKE MARY, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The father of an innocent bystander shot and killed in Lake Mary spoke publicly for the first time Thursday morning about the impact that his son had on his family and the community.

“As a parent it’s a phone call, that you regret getting all your life you regret getting that one phone call,” said Joe Strada, the father of Daniel Strada.

Standing with his wife and two oldest sons, Joe Strada was emotional as he talked about the special place that his 28-year-old son, Daniel Strada, held in their hearts.

“My son was a great kid, he was an innocent young man,” Strada said.

Strada says his son was out last weekend to watch the soccer game in the area of Colonial Town Park in Heathrow. Deputies say a fight started and two men began shooting at each other, one of the men died -- Strada, an innocent bystander, was also shot during the exchange of gunfire.

“He was over a football field away from a tragic event and for some reason, a bullet struck him right in the eyes and killed him immediately,” Strada said.   

The Strada family says the support they’ve received from the community has been overwhelming, now they’re remembering Daniel as a fitness guy with an infectious smile who loved helping others.

“He would take people and just help them get on a fitness program and just work out with them, it wasn’t about anything else other than just helping people and that’s how he was,” Strada said. 

The other man who fired his weapon during the fight was not charged after the state attorney determined he fired in self-defense.