On January 6, 2021, Justin Sumlar, a 31-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, was tragically shot and killed outside an auto shop on Edison Avenue in the Mixon Town area. The incident occurred in broad daylight, and Sumlar was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses reported that Sumlar was standing in front of the auto shop with several others when a man, later identified as Greggory James III, approached wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt that concealed his face.
James fired nine shots, seven of which struck Sumlar, leading to his immediate death.
Following the shooting, witnesses observed a black Nissan with a Texas license plate driving erratically away from the scene. Responding officers quickly located the vehicle and initiated a pursuit, which ended in a crash. During the chase, a .45-caliber handgun was thrown from the vehicle. The driver, Delquan McGriff, and the shooter, Greggory James III, were both apprehended. Ballistics from the discarded handgun and DNA evidence from a sweatshirt linked James to the murder. Consequently, James was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a juvenile delinquent, while McGriff faced charges related to fleeing from an officer and leading police on a pursuit.
The investigation revealed that the shooting might have stemmed from an ongoing dispute, possibly over money. The case proceeded to trial, where multiple witnesses testified about the events leading up to and following the shooting. In June 2023, Greggory James III was found guilty of first-degree murder and is now facing a mandatory life sentence. The trial brought some closure to Sumlar's family, who had been devastated by the senseless act of violence. The community also expressed relief that justice was served, with many hoping that the verdict would deter future acts of violence in the area.
