Ramon Antonio Anderson, a 37-year-old man from Jacksonville, Florida, was tragically killed in a shooting on December 21, 2016. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Catoma Street in the Wesconnett area, where Anderson's body was discovered in the yard of a house under construction. Neighbors reported hearing several gunshots, prompting a call to the police.
Upon arrival, officers found Anderson's lifeless body and began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office quickly identified the case as a homicide and launched a thorough investigation. Surveillance footage from the area showed a compact sedan with multiple occupants leaving the scene shortly after the shooting. This led detectives to believe that Anderson had been lured to the construction site for a robbery. The investigation revealed that the crime was linked to group violence, with the involvement of the Rollin' 20's street gang.
In the months following the murder, two suspects were arrested in connection with Anderson's death. The first suspect, Hason Nekishnum Smiley, a 34-year-old member of the Rollin' 20's gang, was apprehended on November 17, 2017. Smiley was already in custody on charges of armed robbery and attempted murder at the time of his arrest for Anderson's murder. The second suspect, David Alfred Goodman, 26, was arrested on June 20, 2018. Goodman faced charges of murder and armed robbery, and was identified as a co-defendant in the case alongside Smiley.
The arrests of Smiley and Goodman marked significant developments in the investigation, as both men were believed to have played crucial roles in the planning and execution of the robbery that led to Anderson's death. The case was handled by the violent crimes impact team, which focused on addressing group violence and gang-related activities in the area. The investigation into Anderson's murder highlighted the ongoing issues of gang violence and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating such crimes.
Throughout the investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office continued to gather evidence and build a case against the suspects. The arrests of Smiley and Goodman brought some measure of justice for Anderson's family, though the impact of his loss remained deeply felt by those who knew him. The case underscored the importance of community vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement in addressing violent crime and ensuring the safety of neighborhoods.
