Amanuel Shume Kebede, a 22-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, tragically lost his life on May 29, 2015. Kebede, who had recently graduated from Florida State College at Jacksonville, was found shot to death in his car at the intersection of Ashland Street and St. Augustine Road in the San Marco area of Jacksonville. The circumstances surrounding his death were initially unclear, but it was later revealed that Kebede had met two individuals, D'On Jackson and Ronald Hardwick III, for a
marijuana deal. During the encounter, a fight broke out, leading to Kebede being shot.
The investigation into Kebede's death led to the arrest of Jackson and Hardwick. According to court records, a witness saw Jackson exit the car and shoot Kebede. Jackson, who was 20 years old at the time, was charged with second-degree murder and armed robbery. Hardwick, aged 21, faced charges of third-degree murder and armed robbery. The arrests were made in June 2015, shortly after the incident.
Kebede's death was a significant loss to his family and community. He had moved to Florida from Ethiopia 14 years prior and was working as a clerk at a gas station while aspiring to become an engineer. His family described him as a bright and ambitious young man with a promising future. The legal proceedings against Jackson and Hardwick brought some measure of justice, but the pain of Kebede's untimely death continued to resonate with those who knew and loved him.
