Anthony Carl Whitley, a 37-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, was found shot to death on the night of September 4, 2016. His body was discovered inside a silver Chevrolet Impala that had crashed into a fence near Edward Waters College. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reported that Whitley was unresponsive when found, and paramedics confirmed his death at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Whitley had been shot multiple times, and it was believed that the shooting occurred several blocks away from where the car eventually came to rest. A security guard from Edward Waters College, responding to reports of gunfire, found Whitley's body in the vehicle.
The case took a significant turn when the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office made an arrest in connection with Whitley's murder. Devin Bartley, a 21-year-old, was charged with the murder after police found a bullet fragment with his DNA at the scene. The investigation revealed that the shooting was the result of a gun deal gone wrong. According to a second victim, who was also involved in the incident, a masked gunman approached the car during the deal and attempted to rob them. A gunfight ensued, during which Whitley was shot and killed. The second victim, who was also injured, managed to drive away but eventually crashed the car.
Bartley, who was also injured in the shooting, initially claimed that he was the victim of a different incident and had been shot while walking on a sidewalk nearby. However, DNA evidence from the bullet fragment linked him to the scene of Whitley's murder. After months of investigation, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Bartley, who subsequently turned himself in to the authorities. The case highlighted the dangers associated with illegal gun deals and the complexities involved in solving such crimes. The arrest brought some closure to the case, but it also underscored the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing violent crime in the community.
