Editor’s note (May 2026): State Attorney’s Office Responds to Our March 2026 Story
The Justice Coalition is committed to supporting victims and ensuring that their stories are presented with accuracy and care. In that spirit, we are issuing the following State Attorney’s Office response regarding the front-page article published in the March 2026 edition of The Victims’ Advocate.
Following publication, additional information was reviewed, including the State of Florida’s disposition memorandum and case file documentation outlining the State’s contacts with the victim. That review reflects that the State Attorney’s Office had extensive communications with the victim and assisted the victim with completing and submitting claims for compensation. The State’s victim advocate made multiple documented attempts to maintain contact and provide assistance, and the prosecuting attorney met with the victim on several occasions.
Upon further review, the case was not declined due to a lack of effort. Rather, the victim ultimately retracted his prior identification of the alleged shooter and indicated that the man he had originally identified as shooting him (his neighbor) was not responsible. Based on this serious change in his testimony and the evidence, the State determined it could not ethically or legally proceed with prosecution.
We recognize that the original article did not fully reflect these circumstances. We regret any confusion this may have caused and remain committed to ensuring that our reporting is accurate, balanced, and informed by all relevant perspectives.
By Jeannie Ly, Victim Advocate, Justice Coalition
On the night of February 9, 2025, around 10:25 p.m., police officers responded to a call about a person who had been shot. When officers arrived at the scene, they found 19-year-old Da’Jour Pfeifer lying on the front porch of his home, suffering from a gunshot wound to his neck. A witness who had called 911 was with him, desperately trying to help until emergency responders arrived.
What began as a normal night had turned into a life-altering tragedy.
According to the investigation, Da’Jour had been standing on the porch of his residence when an argument broke out between him and his neighbor. The man, someone Da’Jour knew as “Bart,” had once been friendly with him. When Da’Jour first moved into the neighborhood, he said his neighbor was one of the first people who showed him kindness and welcomed him.
That sense of neighborly familiarity made what happened next even more shocking. Earlier that evening, Da’Jour had gone to speak with his neighbor following an unrelated altercation with his partner. During their conversation, he noticed his neighbor seemed agitated. Sensing the tension, Da’Jour chose to walk away rather than escalate the situation. But walking away did not end the conflict; his neighbor pulled out a firearm and pointed it at him. Da’Jour reportedly told him that if there was a problem, they could fight instead. For a moment, it seemed the situation might calm down.
Instead, the gun was raised again. Then it went off. The bullet struck Da’Jour in the neck. For Da’Jour, everything went dark. He was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Doctors fought to save his life, and for two months, Da’Jour remained in a coma.
When Da’Jour finally regained consciousness, he had no clear memory of the shooting itself. Instead, he woke up to a new and devastating reality.
He could no longer move his legs. The gunshot had damaged his spinal cord. In an instant, the life of a healthy 19-year-old had been permanently changed.
Da’Jour was now paralyzed from the chest down. Simple things most people take for granted, like standing up, walking across a room, or running outside, were no longer possible. Daily life had become a series of new challenges, requiring medical care, physical adjustments, and emotional strength.
The trauma of the shooting was not the first time gun violence had touched his life. Da’Jour had already experienced the pain of losing his sister to gun violence. Now, he had become another victim of the same cycle.
For many survivors, the justice system can offer a sense of accountability or closure. But for Da’Jour, that hope never fully materialized.
Despite the seriousness of the shooting and the evidence gathered during the investigation, the case was ultimately disposed in court. Prosecutors entered a nolle prosequi, a legal term meaning the state decided not to move forward with the charges. As a result, the case was dropped.
The man accused of shooting Da’Jour is still living right next door. Da’Jour continues to face the reality of living just a yard away from the person who changed his life forever.
For a survivor already coping with paralysis and trauma, that reality can feel overwhelming. The system that is designed to support victims also failed him.
Victims of violent crime in Florida are often eligible for financial assistance through victim compensation programs, which can help cover medical bills, counseling, and other recovery needs. However, navigating these programs typically requires guidance and support from victim advocates assigned through the justice system.
In Da’Jour’s case, that support never fully came.
The state-appointed victim advocate who was supposed to assist him did not help him complete the paperwork needed to apply for victim compensation. As a result, Da’Jour was left to navigate the complicated process on his own while simultaneously adjusting to life after a catastrophic injury.
Today, Da’Jour continues to rebuild his life piece by piece. He faces physical challenges every day, but he also carries the emotional weight of knowing that justice, support, and safety, the things many victims hope to find after violence, never fully arrived for him. The Justice Coalition is slowly helping Da’Jour stabilize his life by helping him get the compensation he deserves.
To any victims who are reading this, we urge you to continue to speak up, continue to advocate for yourself, and keep fighting. The Justice Coalition is here to help victims of violent crime find their voice and advocate for you to keep going.
His story is not just about a shooting. It is about survival. It is about resilience in the face of life-changing violence. It is about the gaps in a system that is supposed to protect and support victims when they need it most.
This story has been approved by the victim. All information in the story is public record and stated by the victim.
Read the complete March 2026 edition of the Victims’ Advocate (PDF)
Read the State Attorney’s Office response in the May 2026 edition (PDF)