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Arrest made in first Jacksonville murder of 2019

On the second day of the new year, police say 20-year-old Trevor Gray was shot while driving Wednesday near St. Johns Bluff Road and Bahia Drive. He was taken to Memorial Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Gray’s sister, Kristi Romero, opened up only to Action News Jax on Friday night.

“He was such a caring person. He was so sweet, he had the hugest heart,” said Romero.

MORE: JSO: Arrest made after man shot, killed while driving on St. Johns Bluff Road

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says it started after an altercation broke out between one of the individuals with the victim and the suspect, Izhaan Scott, 18, at a Circle K Gas Station a few miles away on St. Johns Bluff Road South.

Following the altercation between the two, the victim and his acquaintances returned to their vehicle and left the scene.

Officers say Scott fired multiple shots into the driver’s side of Gray’s vehicle near Bahia and St. Johns Bluff, striking Gray.

“He was our protector. He’s the one that just made sure everyone was OK,” said Romero.

Scott was later arrested and charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder.

According to JSO’s transparency page, this is the first murder of 2019. The department's statistics revealed 103 murders in 2018, which is nine fewer than the 112 murder cases in 2017.  Romero tells us she’s experiencing a mix of emotions tonight.

“He lost his life to senseless violence over a gun, and now this guy is losing his life and going to jail,” said Romero.