The Jacksonville community is grappling with the aftermath of a violent spree that has led to the arrest of a 45-year-old man in connection to a recent murder and a separate incident involving a double shooting. According to a social media post from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO), James Antonio Hunter has been charged with the murder of 33-year-old Sierra McKenzie, whose body was found in January, as well as a double shooting that occurred just days after McKenzie's attack.

Officers who responded to an emergency call on January 23 found McKenzie in a distressing state, lying in a pool of blood on the sidewalk of College Circle South. Following an examination by the Medical Examiner’s Office, it was determined that a gunshot wound was the cause of death. Earlier this month, Hunter was apprehended by members of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force acting on two outstanding warrants for his arrest, as JSO detectives sifted through evidence connecting him to McKenzie's untimely demise.

Further investigations have revealed Hunter's alleged involvement in a separate violent encounter. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office stated that their Robbery and Violent Crime Unit detectives charged Hunter with shooting two individuals in the head during a home invasion robbery on Main Street in the Brentwood neighborhood.

The JSO has communicated a commitment to bringing perpetrators to justice, reducing violence, and providing families of victims with closure, stating, "We will continue to use every resource possible to catch killers, reduce violence, and bring families justice."