Philip Hetzner, a 67-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, was tragically shot and killed on December 4, 2022, at Keystone Terminals, a business in the Tallyrand neighborhood. Hetzner, who was the director of finance for the private port, was found with an open wallet in his hand, indicating a possible robbery motive. His daughter, Madison Hetzner, shared that he was at work on his day off, painting a building to ensure it looked nice for the company.
This senseless act of violence cut short his plans to officiate his daughter's wedding, a role he was eagerly preparing for.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) released surveillance photos of a potential suspect and a silver Honda seen in the area. The suspect attempted to use Hetzner's credit card at multiple businesses along Beach Boulevard shortly after the shooting. Despite the release of these photos and the ongoing investigation, the community was left in shock and grief, with Hetzner's family pleading for information to bring the perpetrator to justice.
In a significant development, Payne Fair Johnson Jr., a 70-year-old man, was arrested in connection with Hetzner's murder. Johnson was identified through extensive surveillance footage and fraud alerts from Hetzner's cell phone, which led investigators to various ATMs and businesses where Johnson attempted to use the stolen debit cards. Johnson's criminal history includes convictions for robbery, assault, aggravated assault, burglary, receiving stolen goods, and counterfeiting, primarily in Georgia.
Johnson was apprehended in South Carolina by Effingham County deputies during a traffic stop on December 7, 2022, and later arrested by the US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on March 1, 2023. He was extradited to Florida, where he remains in custody. The arrest brought some relief to Hetzner's family, who continue to seek justice and closure for the loss of their beloved father and friend. The investigation highlighted the critical role of technology and community cooperation in solving such heinous crimes.
