JSO: Man beaten to death by cellmate in Duval County jail

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE 7/29/2019 AT 11:30 P.M. - An arrest has been made in a jail murder that happened just before noon Tuesday.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Paul Dixon killed his cellmate. Records show Dixon was in jail for another murder he committed when he was 17. He is now 43.

The alleged murder happened at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. Dixon was brought back to the Duval County jail for court proceedings.

ORIGINIAL STORY:

Families rushed to the Duval County Jail Tuesday afternoon to find out if their loved ones were safe after police said a man was beaten to death by his cellmate during a fight.

“It was scary. We saw it on the news and stuff, so we came down here fast,” said Tricia Ford, who found out her loved one was not hurt.

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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirmed a third cellmate witnessed the fight.

It happened on what’s known as 5 East at the Pretrial Detention Facility, which means it’s on the east wing of the jail on the fifth floor.

Inmates on 5 East are mostly people who have already been sentenced, and are either waiting to be transferred to state prison or back in Duval County for court.

JSO said two men got into a fight inside their cell and one man appears to have beaten the other to death.

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“We were talking about the last time there was ever an incident like this in Jacksonville, and none of us can recall anything in recent memory. I mean, I’ve been here almost 23 years. I can’t recall one,” said JSO Assistant Chief Brian Kee.

JSO is not naming the victim until his family is notified and not naming the suspect because he has not been charged with a crime at this point.

Kee said there is surveillance video that shows “valuable” evidence.

JSO held a briefing at 3 p.m.: 

Cox Media Group