City Commission Honors Homicide Victim

Sarasota native Jeffrey Leonard Hill, 34, left behind a close knit family and one dedicated to serving the when he was murdered Jan. 25, and the city recognized his life and his family's contributions this week.

Sarasota Police found Hill last month in the 1900 block of 24^th Street where investigators believed he ended up after he was trying to get help being shot during a robbery attempt or while trying to flee. He died at Blake Medical Center, about four hours after the incident, according to police.

Hill's last known address was 26th Ave. West in Bradenton, but his family runs deep in Sarasota.

To honor that, the city commission approved a memorial resolution Monday night.

Hill was a star quarterback and defensive back for Sarasota High School, according to the resolution, and played the sport while attending Virgnia Union University in Richmond, Virginia.

He returned to Sarasota and coached in the Ringling Redskins league, according to the resolution.

Hill's grandfather Calvin Hill is a retired Public Works employee, serving the city for 22 years and his father Daryel Hill works in the same department while two brothers Timothy and Romaine work for the city's Utilities Department.

Calvin Hill told The Sarasota Herald-Tribune on the day of his grandson's death that Jeffrey didn't have any money on him at the time of the robbery. Jeffrey's sister Nicole told the paper he was well loved:

"He didn't bother anybody," his sister Nicole Hill said. "He was innocent, and they didn't have any regard. All these killings need to be stopped. It don't make no sense."

Commissioner Willie Shaw presented the resolution to the family and promised that "justice will prevail" in Hill's case.

The case is under investigation. Anyone with information about Hill's homicide should call Detective Anthony DeFrancisco at the Sarasota Police Department at 941-954-7049.