An 18-year-old Florida male has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old man in early January. The alleged murder took place in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville on Jan. 2.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the decedent was sitting in his car at the crossing of St. Johns Bluff Road and Bahia Drive around 9 p.m. when the defendant pulled up beside him and fired several shots. The decedent continued driving down St. Johns Bluff Road but eventually lost the ability to control his car and crashed near Atlantic Boulevard. Emergency personnel transported him to Memorial Hospital, but he later died. He was shot multiple times.
Moments before the shooting, the decedent was reportedly involved in a fistfight with one of the defendant’s associates at a nearby Circle K gas station. When the decedent drove away, the defendant allegedly jumped into a silver Toyota Avalon and followed him down the road, eventually catching up with him and shooting him. The defendant was arrested on Jan. 4 and charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He is being held in the Duval County Jail without bond.
An individual facing murder charges may benefit from contacting a criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible. The lawyer could protect a defendant’s rights during police questioning and offer essential guidance throughout the legal process. Legal counsel could also investigate the case, challenge the prosecution’s evidence and work to build a strong defense. In some circumstances, it might be possible to get the charges dismissed. In others, it may be advisable to negotiate a plea deal with prosecutors, which could lead to a more lenient sentence.