On June 9, 2024, Stanley Kevin Merriweather III, a 16-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, lost his life to gun violence. The incident occurred early Sunday morning at the Island Pointe Apartments located on Island Point Drive on Jacksonville's Northside.
Merriweather was one of two teenage boys who were found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds when police responded to reports of a shooting around 4:30 a.m. The other victim was identified as 16-year-old Travaris J. Odol.
Both teenagers died at the scene.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO), neither of the victims lived at the apartment complex where the shooting took place. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still unknown and under investigation. JSO has stated that they believe this to be an isolated incident and that there is no additional threat to the community.
Merriweather was born on April 11, 2008, and his funeral arrangements were handled by Sarah L. Carter's Funeral Home Southside in Jacksonville. The community has been urged to come forward with any information regarding the incident, and anyone with details is asked to contact JSO or CrimeStoppers.
The shooting has been described as an unusual event for the typically quiet neighborhood, with a resident noting that incidents like this rarely occur in the area. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are seeking any information that could help clarify the events leading up to the tragic deaths of Merriweather and Odol.
