JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man fatally shot Tuesday night during an argument in the parking lot of an extended-stay hotel near Beach Boulevard was a father who was known to those who call the hotel home.
Police have not released the victim’s name, but one woman who said he was a good friend described him as someone who was always in high spirits.
“His children loved him to death,” said Stephany Vaghan, who is a resident at the WoodSpring Suites off Beach Boulevard, about a mile west of St. Johns Bluff Road.
Police were called around 8:42 p.m. to the hotel on Saland Way and found the man shot several times. He died at the scene.
According to JSO, witnesses said they heard an argument between the man and another person moments before shots rang out.
A manager at the hotel was not available for comment on Wednesday, but a resident who lives on the fourth floor of the building shared video of the aftermath with News4JAX.
“I was just playing on my laptop upstairs, waiting for my girlfriend to get home, and I just hear, like, 8 or 9 gunshots go off out of nowhere,” Christopher Dunning said. “I was like, damn. So, you know, I laid down on the ground, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is serious.’”
Police said the suspected shooter drove away in a dark colored vehicle. It’s unclear if the two knew each other or why they were arguing.
As Vaghan mourns the death of her friend, she encourages the managers of the property to ensure the safety of tenants and increase security.
If you have any information, contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office by phone at 904-630-0500, by email at jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org, or through CrimeStoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
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