Duval County

‘Hero’ neighbor held armed burglary suspect down until police arrived

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — North Jacksonville neighbors are calling Kenny Fowler a hero.

He told Action News Jax he and his son took down one of four suspects wanted for an armed burglary on Edwards Creek Road and held him down until police got there.

Fowler spoke exclusively to Action News Jax on Friday.

“I witnessed every move they made from this area to when I detained the one in front of my home,” said Fowler.

The crime sparked a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office manhunt in the neighborhood for the remaining suspects.

The report said police found Fowler sitting on top of one of the suspects.

“If I’m home, I’m going to watch out for my neighborhood, and it’s not going to happen around here,” said Fowler.

Fowler told Action News Jax it all started when he spotted three suspects getting out of an unfamiliar white SUV, then heading toward his neighbor’s house.

He he heard loud bangs as they broke down the door. That’s when he said us he and his and son followed, initially, to get the SUV’s tag number.

“When they seen us, the getaway driver left them, and we put a foot chase on them and was able to detain one,” said Fowler.

JSO caught the remaining suspects, ages 17 to 20, and found the vehicle after a manhunt neighbors said included a police helicopter and K-9 officer.

Police arrested 17-year-old Wyatt Wayne Moore, 18-year-old Jannan Hadar-Basir Granger, 19-year-old Zantorian Marquise Smith, and 20-year-old Blake Michael Cowar, on armed burglary charges.

Fowler said Moore is the suspect he and his son subdued.

Police recovered everything the suspects stole from the home, including a shotgun, a computer, shoes and designer handbags.

Fowler said his home was burglarized in November and that’s why he sprang into action.

“I didn’t even think of any danger or anything like that,” said Fowler. “I reacted! And the reaction resulted in arrest.”

The owners of the home, who asked not to be identified for their protection, said they are grateful Fowler came running.

“Had he had not been home, and heard the kicks on the door, and had that intestinal fortitude to do something about it, they would have got away,” said one of the homeowners.