Zale Baker Jr. died Thursday from injuries sustained in a shooting earlier in the week, his family confirmed to WCTV. The 27-year-old was found early on Oct. 28 with multiple gunshot wounds in the 500 block of Magnolia Drive at the Magnolia Terrace Apartments, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.
Following the shooting, Baker was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he ultimately succumbed to his wounds. WCTV reported the family’s confirmation of his death on Monday morning.
Mourning a Family Pillar at Magnolia Terrace
Loved ones gathered on the evening of Nov. 2 at the site of the shooting to honor Baker. Clutching red and silver balloons inscribed with “RIP Zale,” family members shared prayers and memories before releasing the balloons into the sky, as reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
Family members described Baker as a reliable and loving presence who stepped in as a guardian after the death of their mother. He is survived by three children, siblings, and numerous relatives.
“I will never get another him. He was a good brother. He was a loving, caring brother. He was a family person; he just was not nobody,” Baker’s twin sister Shanzale told the Tallahassee Democrat. “I just feel like we deserve justice because my brother was not a bad person. He did not deserve this.”
Calls for Accountability Amid Gun Violence
The investigation remains active, and family members are urging authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a car pull up, open fire, and speed away following the early-morning attack.
“It’s families with unanswered questions about their loved ones, unsolved cases. Zale’s case does not need to be unsolved. That needs to be solved,” family friend Ta’Mareah Hudson told the Tallahassee Democrat. “They have to take this investigation very thoroughly. They have to take this very seriously because this was senseless violence right here.”
The incident unfolded during a period marked by a surge of local gun violence, including an October 24 mass shooting near Florida A&M University’s Bragg Memorial Stadium that left 11 people injured during homecoming weekend.
Vigil and Community Remembrance
Baker’s family scheduled a community vigil to take place at 6:30 p.m.
WCTV has reached out to the Tallahassee Police Department for updates regarding suspects or formal charges as the investigation proceeds.
