Every week between now and the one-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shootings, Orlando Weekly will profile a person killed on June 12, 2016. This week: Antonio “Tony” Davon Brown
U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Antonio “Tony” Davon Brown was known among his fellow troops for his smile and unwavering spirit.
Brown, originally from Port St. John, lived in Orlando and wanted to go to the gay nightclub Pulse on June 12 to have some fun, says his friend Keinon Carter. During the mass shooting that night, Brown and 48 other people died from their injuries.
“He was a newfound friend,” Carter says. “We hung out every day. We were kind of like new brothers. I just miss him.”
Brown served an 11-month tour in Kuwait during the Iraq War in 2010 and had been promoted to captain in 2012. He was a highly decorated soldier whose awards included a Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, and the National Defense Service Medal. Before his death, he was working at Lowe’s as a human resources manager.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said the attack in Orlando was a cowardly assault on the freedoms that Brown had devoted his life to protect.
“Capt. Antonio Davon Brown served his country for nearly a decade, stepping forward to do the noblest thing a young person can do, which is to protect others,” he said. “His service both at home and overseas gave his fellow Americans the security to dream their dreams and live full lives.”
Brown graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 2008 with a major in criminal justice and was a member of the school’s ROTC program. He also earned a master’s in business administration from the University of Mary in North Dakota.
At Brown’s funeral, James Hickey told mourners that his older brother was a genuine person who had a joy for living, Florida Today reports.
“He had a kind heart, and a loving soul, and he never met a stranger,” Hickey said. “To honor my brother, love somebody. Because that’s what he did.”
This article appears in Jun 7-13, 2017.