A dispute during a pickup basketball game on a Wednesday evening in Jacksonville, Florida, escalated into a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 33-year-old Charles Johnson Jr. The incident occurred on September 16, 2026, at Clanzel T. Brown Park in the Moncrief area. Johnson was at the park participating in a basketball game when an argument broke out between him and another player.
The altercation turned deadly when the other player, identified as 22-year-old Jayden King, allegedly
pulled out a firearm and shot Johnson multiple times. After the shooting, King fled the scene on foot. Emergency services were called to the park, and officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office arrived to find Johnson with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Witnesses at the scene were quick to identify Jayden King as the gunman, providing crucial information to law enforcement. Utilizing these witness statements along with surveillance camera footage, investigators were able to build a case against King. Less than six hours after the shooting, and within four miles of the park, officers located and apprehended King. He was arrested just before midnight and has been charged with second-degree murder. King is currently being held in the Duval County Jail without bond as the investigation into the death of Charles Johnson Jr. continues.
