Neighbors say a local veteran was murdered for his 401(k) money.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said 36-year-old Rico Mitchell shot and killed 54-year-old Curtis Young Jr. on Nov. 14 and stole from him right in front of his neighbors.
JSO said with the help of the U.S. Marshals, they were able to track Mitchell to Chicago, where he was arrested.
Several neighbors off-camera told us that the morning of the shooting, Young had just received money from his 401(k). They said he was wearing a money belt holding $5,000 in cash. Neighbors say he was standing outside of his home getting ready to pay his landlord when Mitchell approached him.
“Witnesses said that Rico pulled the trigger and shot Mr. Young in the chest,” said JSO Lt. Steve Gallaher.
Neighbors tell us as soon as Young collapsed, Mitchell grabbed his money belt and took off.
“He was known to the neighborhood and we were really able to rack up the eyewitnesses, which took a while to locate and interview them all,” said Lt. Steve Gallaher.
Mitchell will eventually be extradited back to Jacksonville, where he faces charges of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
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