Following a double shooting in Macclenny, two men have been apprehended and face murder charges. The Baker County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 22-year-old Jamarian Byrd and 24-year-old Travis Roberts Jr. are being held in connection with the shooting which resulted in the death of 19-year-old Devin Powers Jr., also known as "DJ." The tragic incident occurred on June 26th near 9th Street and South Boulevard. According to Action News Jax, DJ succumbed to his injuries on July 2nd, one week after the event, while a 14-year-old who was also shot has since been released from the hospital.
On top of the murder charges, Byrd and Roberts have been charged with aggravated battery, as well as shooting into an occupied dwelling, and discharging a firearm in public, which a 14-year-old was also injured during the double shooting. News4Jax reports that prior to the shooting, an altercation involving a robbery in which a handgun was stolen from one of the teens preceded the gunfire. A 22-year-old man has been arrested in relation to the robbery although he has not been charged in connection with the shooting.
Both suspects are currently booked into Baker County Jail. Sheriff Scotty Rhoden released a statement expressing his sorrow over the loss of young DJ Powers and emphasized a stance against gun violence in the community. "His heartfelt condolences to the family of DJ Powers" were extended, and he reminded residents that "gun violence has no place in Baker County," as obtained by WCJB.
As the legal process unfolds, details about the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting continue to emerge.
