Garvin Owensby Jr., a 42-year-old African American man, was tragically killed on February 17, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida. Owensby, a tattoo artist who had recently returned to Jacksonville from Virginia, was found shot dead inside a home on West 1st Street. The incident also left a woman, identified as Owensby's girlfriend, critically wounded with a gunshot wound to the neck. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to the scene around 8:40 a.m.
and discovered Owensby deceased and his girlfriend in critical condition. She was able to provide some information to the police before being rushed to the hospital.
The investigation revealed that Owensby and his girlfriend were living in the home with their roommate, 37-year-old Charles James Crosby. On the day of the incident, Owensby and Crosby were reportedly playing chess when Crosby became fixated on a gun in the house. As Owensby and his girlfriend were preparing to leave, Crosby shot Owensby in the head. Owensby's girlfriend, despite being shot in the neck, managed to survive by playing dead until Crosby fled the scene in her car. She then sought help from neighbors, eventually finding someone who called 911.
Charles James Crosby was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was booked into the Duval County jail and held without bond. The arrest brought some relief to the community and Owensby's family, who had been seeking justice for his death. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in Jacksonville, with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office urging the community to come forward with any information that could help solve such crimes. The investigation into Owensby's death was part of a broader effort by law enforcement to address a series of shootings in the area during that period.
