Parents of Warwick man James Cooper speak of their loss

James Cooper, 25, of Grove Fields, Hampton Lucy, was on a family holiday when he and his friend James Kouzaris, from Northampton, were shot in the city of Sarasota in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

In a statement his parents, Sandra and Stanley Cooper, said: “We loved our son and he loved us so strongly.

“We were blessed and so very proud to have him as our boy. A day never passed without telling each other ‘I love you’

“He was gentle, kind, compassionate, clever and an athlete; but beyond all his achievements he was full of love.

“His laugh, his voice, his humour filled every space. In his short life he lived it to the full and helped everyone lucky enough to know him to do the same.

“As his parents our lives have been shattered, but through us and his friends and family he will live on.

“God bless you son, heaven has another angel, but this world is a colder and poorer place without you in it.”

Tributes have been pouring in for tennis coach and avid Coventry City fan Mr Cooper, who grew up in Kenilworth before moving to Hampton Lucy.

The two Sheffield University graduates, were found within 50 metres of eachother in an area 12 miles away from where they were staying.

It is not yet known what they were doing there.

His friend Ben Webster said: “Cooper was the nicest mate we could ask for. He had a huge personality that is impossible to replace.

“The messages and tributes that have been paid to him show how much of an impact he had on everyone he met.

“Right now it’s just important that his family and close friends pull together to get through this tragic time.”

A 16-year-old boy named Shawn Tyson has been arrested for the murders. He was known to the police after being arrested for aggravated assault with a handgun earlier this month.

Hampton Lucy parish clerk Michael Woodman said: “It is very sad to hear of anyone dying in such dreadful circumstances and I offer our deepest condolences to his parents on behalf of the parishioners of Hampton Lucy.”

James Roe had known Mr Cooper since he was 14 and they played tennis together.

He said: “James’ death was a complete shock. God knows how scared they must have been.

“He was just a great guy and had so many friends, people are devastated by what’s happened.”