On September 26, 2023, Demetrius Dunn, a 28-year-old man from Jacksonville, Florida, lost his life in a shooting incident. The incident occurred on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway on the Eastside of Jacksonville. According to reports, a 911 call was made around 11 a.m. to report people in two vehicles engaging in a shootout. Shortly after, another call was received indicating that someone had been shot inside a vehicle, which then crashed near the intersection of 3rd and Bridier streets.
Demetrius Dunn was identified by his family as the victim and was taken to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) stated that they do not have a motive for the shooting and are still searching for the suspect. Dunn's family disputes the police's description of the event as a shootout, insisting that he was murdered and did not deserve to die.
Dunn was remembered by his family as a loving and caring individual who was always with his cousins and made them smile. He was described as a man of intention who continued to support his family even after the loss of his grandmother the previous year. His cousin, Connie Thurston, highlighted his strength and commitment to his family, emphasizing the devastating impact of his death on the family, who have experienced significant loss.
The JSO is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. People can contact the JSO's non-emergency number or report anonymously through CrimeStoppers. Dunn's death marked the 19th shooting in a six-day span in Jacksonville, contributing to a total of 301 people shot in the city up to that point in the year.
As of the current date, the case remains unsolved, and the community is being asked to provide any information that might help in identifying the suspect and bringing justice to the family of Demetrius Dunn.
