The Unsolved Murder of Ronnie Mathis: A Decade-Long Quest for Justice in Jacksonville

A Tragic Night in Northwest Jacksonville

On the night of September 4, 2013, the Huron-Sophia apartment complex in Northwest Jacksonville became the scene of a tragic event. Residents were startled by the sound of gunshots around 11 p.m., leading to the discovery of 54-year-old Ronnie Mathis, who had been shot multiple times inside his vehicle. The vehicle, still in motion, collided with an apartment building, intensifying the alarm among the community. Witnesses recounted hearing five to six shots, with one resident, Rude Beard, describing his immediate response: "I saw the car smoking, I ran to the car... I saw two gunshot wounds, no response." Despite the prompt arrival of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO), Mathis was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bomb Scare Adds to the Chaos

The situation escalated when information surfaced suggesting that Mathis might have had an explosive device in his possession. Witnesses informed investigators that Mathis was known to carry a grenade, prompting the evacuation of the apartment complex for several hours. The JSO bomb squad was deployed to assess the potential threat. Sergeant Jay Farhat of the JSO stated, "We had to withdraw from the scene. Our JSO bomb squad unit responded, searched the vehicle, no explosive devices located." By 2:15 a.m., residents were allowed to return to their homes, and the area was declared safe. ...Read More

Share

Comments (0)

Leave A Comment