ARCADIA, Fla. — The Arcadia community is coming together to honor the memory a man who was murdered just before Christmas.
Juan Sebastian was sleeping on a bench when three men beat him to death.
“So we decided to go ahead and have a big cook and just show people there’s still love and people are about people,” said Nathan Hampton.
Spaghetti and meatballs filled the air Sunday in Arcadia as community members came together to honor a friend who was tragically killed, handing out free dinner to the less fortunate. Juan Sebastian, a homeless man known to many, was beaten to death by three men earlier in December. Now many in the community are heartbroken and wanting to do more.
Nathan Hampton cooked the delicious meal and says this event shows that people still care.
“You know every now and then it’s nice to get a free meal, you know just to feed somebody, so you know that is my new years resolution, trying to give back more, and just help people eat and just show people love”, said Nathan Hampton.
Another event organizer provided a bounce house and snow cones.
“They called me last week and asked me could they rent one for the event and I said well why rent it when I can just come and let everyone play for free because I already know what the cause is for”, said O.T. Dennis.
Dennis is happy to be able to give back.
“Everybody is not able, and he was a homeless guy so most of his supports are going to be from the homeless community so if they can afford it we’ll give it to them”, said Dennis.
Montreal Peterson says Sebastian's death was heartbreaking but he must live on.
“I wanted the community to come together and Mr. Juan he meant a lot to everybody here in this community so I just wanted everybody just to come together and remember him and the memories they have,” said Peterson.
Peterson tells me that they are not done and they will continue to make a difference in Arcadia, even in the works of trying to build a new homeless shelter all in memory of their beloved friend with the cans Juan the can man.
