JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is still searching for the suspect in a deadly shooting Tuesday night in the parking lot of the Woodspring Suites extended stay motel in Windy Hill on the Southside.
Mauriel Gibson, an employee at the hotel, says the victim — who has not yet been identified by JSO — was in his 40s. JSO said Wednesday that they will not release that victim’s name to the public until his family has been notified.
Gibson said the victim has many friends in this complex, and was well-liked.
“I just got a call while I was out. Coming back, one of my neighbors basically called, asking if I was OK or if all of our staff was OK,” Gibson said. “After that, like, I pretty much just rushed over here because I thought it was an employee that pretty much got shot, and it turned out to be Damien.”
JSO officers provided some details of the incident.
“What we know now is that the victim was walking through the parking lot when he met up with an individual. Witnesses heard an argument shortly after they met up and multiple gunshots,” said Sergeant Michael Highfill, from JSO’s Homicide Unit, at media briefing Wednesday morning.
JSO says the suspect took off in a dark-colored vehicle after the shooting at about 8:42 p.m.
“It’s sad to, like, really see him go out that type of way. Over whatever it was” said Gibson.
As of Wednesday morning, investigators were combing through the parking lot before and after the sun rose. Gibson said the victim was friendly, and always joking, and that he leaves behind a family.
“He was always hanging out with us all the time. Pretty much he would come here. He used to live here. He’ll come here or hang out with everyone then” Gibson said.
“He had a family. All the kids would come here. His son is my best friend. I don’t see why that really happened like that” Gibson continued.
“We just all know him as like one of the good ones. He was a good guy,” Gibson added.
Any one with any information is asked to call JSO.
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