Gary Jackson, a 39-year-old man, was fatally shot in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, on May 2, 2023. The incident occurred behind a dumpster in the 500 block of West Ashley Street. A person flagged down a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office bailiff around 6:30 a.m. after discovering Jackson lying on the ground next to the dumpster. Homicide detectives found Jackson with at least one gunshot wound, along with multiple 9mm shell casings, an extended magazine with live rounds, and multiple bullet
defects in the dumpster.
Surveillance footage from surrounding buildings captured the events leading up to the shooting. The footage shows Jackson being chased by a white male, later identified as Ryan Nichols, who was holding a handgun with an extended magazine. Nichols approached the dumpster where Jackson attempted to hide, raised the gun, and multiple muzzle flashes were seen. A Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was following Nichols and Jackson during the chase, was seen fleeing the scene westbound on West Ashley Street after the shooting.
The investigation led to the identification of three suspects: Ryan Nichols, 19, Daniel De Guardia, 18, and Holden Dodson, 21. The suspects were arrested on May 4, 2023. According to their statements, they chased Jackson because he allegedly stole a firearm belonging to Nichols. The gun used in the shooting, which belonged to Dodson, was dismantled and thrown into the St. Johns River over the Buckman Bridge.
In the subsequent trial, Ryan Nichols was sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing Gary Jackson. Daniel De Guardia and Holden Dodson were charged with accessory after the fact and faced up to 15 years in prison. During the sentencing, Jackson’s sister delivered an emotional victim impact statement, expressing her sorrow and the impact of the murder on their family, especially Jackson’s 9-year-old daughter. Dodson and De Guardia offered apologies to Jackson’s family, with Dodson mentioning his struggles with depression and De Guardia discussing how his life spiraled out of control after his father's death from COVID-19.
The sentencing hearing also included pleas for mercy from the relatives of the defendants, highlighting their difficult backgrounds and the mistakes they had made. Despite these pleas, Judge Anthony Salem sentenced Nichols to 40 years, while Dodson and De Guardia were scheduled for sentencing on June 28, 2024.
