On January 15, 2023, 58-year-old African American woman Uneeda Voncile Hardy was tragically killed in a triple homicide in Jacksonville, Florida. She was found deceased alongside her partner, 63-year-old Gregory Joel Merritt, and a family friend, 44-year-old Luther Lewis Williams IV, at their residence on the 11000 block of Bridges Road in Northwest Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Williams in the front yard with multiple gunshot wounds, while Hardy and Merritt were found inside a bedroom, both having suffered fatal gunshot injuries. Investigators recovered numerous 9mm shell casings at the scene.
The primary suspect, 18-year-old Ja-Darrius Jashawn Jones, the grandson of Hardy and Merritt, was apprehended shortly after the incident. He was located at a nearby residence, attempting to flee through a window, and was captured following a brief foot chase. A witness reported that Jones arrived at her home armed and wearing blood-stained white sneakers and a fanny pack, both later identified as belonging to Williams. Post-Miranda, Jones confessed to the shootings, stating he drove away in a black car after the incident.
Initially charged with three counts of second-degree murder, Jones's charges were later elevated to first-degree murder. On April 9, 2025, a Duval County jury found him guilty on all counts. He received a mandatory life sentence in Florida State Prison, with formal sentencing by Judge Tatiana Salvador scheduled subsequently.
The motive behind the killings was reported as an ongoing family dispute. Family members indicated that tensions had been escalating, culminating in this tragic event. Williams, the third victim, was believed to have been an unintended casualty, possibly killed for witnessing the crime.
Uneeda Hardy was born on July 2, 1964, in Jacksonville, Florida. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, siblings, and numerous other relatives and friends. Her death, along with those of Merritt and Williams, has left a profound impact on the community, highlighting the devastating consequences of familial violence.
