A Jacksonville gas station worker is recovering after being shot during a robbery. The owner’s friend speaks to his character as police still search for the suspect.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man who was simply working his shift at a Jacksonville gas station is now fighting to recover after being shot during a robbery, and those who know him say the violence has shaken their community.
A friend of the victim said the man behind the counter that morning wasn’t just an employee, he was someone known for treating people with kindness.
“He’s a real sweet guy, always polite to his customers,” said Andrew Lentz, who works at a nearby business.
Lentz works at a sandwich shop just steps away from the Chevron gas station on St. Johns Bluff Road South, where police said the shooting happened early Thursday morning.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to the gas station around 5:30 in the morning and found an employee in his 40s suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. He was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Family members tell First Coast News that doctors expect him to recover, but his progress has been slow, and he has not yet been able to speak.
For Lentz, the shooting feels personal.
He said he had gotten to know the victim over time and described him as someone who took pride in serving customers and helping others.
“I knew him; he was a nice person,” Lentz said. “It’s just sad he had to go through this. His daughter, his friends, his family, they’re the ones suffering the most right now because of this.”
Lentz said crime has been an ongoing concern in the area, with repeated thefts and break-ins affecting businesses nearby, including the Chevron where his friend worked.
Calls for service records show dozens of theft and robbery calls at the location over the past five years.
He recalled recent break-ins that damaged the store and added stress for the owner.
“Only a month or two ago, he had two break-ins back to back,” Lentz said. “They replaced the door, then that same day someone re-smashed the door.”
Despite those challenges, Lentz said the victim remained committed to his customers and the community.
He said the store owner often gave unhoused people small jobs, like cleaning the parking lot, and paid them fairly.
Police said the shooting happened after a man dressed in all black, wearing a backpack and white shoes, entered the store and pointed a gun at the employee while making demands.
Investigators said the suspect fired shots before running from the store in an unknown direction.
Authorities said the shooting appears to be isolated, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 904-630-0500 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.