A neighborhood feud in Murray Hill has ended with a prison term. On Friday, a Duval County judge sentenced 30-year-old Tyler Getchell to seven years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted manslaughter in a November shooting that left 24-year-old Kyle McFarlane partially paralyzed. The attack, which happened near the unit block of Green Street in the Murray Hill neighborhood, outraged Jacksonville’s LGBTQ+ community and sparked calls for prosecutors to consider a bias enhancement. McFarlane is still in recovery with a bullet lodged near his spine, and supporters say he faces a long rehabilitation and mounting medical bills.
Sentence and Plea Details
Judge London Kite imposed the sentence after Getchell entered a guilty plea to attempted manslaughter, according to First Coast News. The punishment also includes two years of community service, three years of probation, restitution, mandated mental health follow-up, and a court order barring any contact with McFarlane and his family, the outlet reports. After the hearing, McFarlane posted on Facebook, writing, "7 years prison. 2 years community service. 3 years probation. restitution. you will, indeed, have a long time to think about what you did," according to the same report.
How the Shooting Unfolded
The shooting took place on Nov. 22, 2025, after what investigators described as a neighbor dispute over property and a loud argument, as reported by Action News Jax. Police say video footage and an arrest report show Getchell retrieving a firearm, returning to the scene, and firing a single shot that struck McFarlane in the back. The bullet remains lodged near McFarlane’s spine and has left him partially paralyzed. Getchell was initially arrested on more serious charges, but prosecutors later accepted a plea to a reduced count, according to court filings.
Neighbors’ History of Harassment
Friends, advocates, and court filings say the shooting capped months of alleged intimidation that included anti-gay signs pointed at McFarlane’s home and feces smeared on his walls. An injunction filed before the shooting lays out those incidents, according to LGBTQ Nation. Supporters point to social media posts and court records they say show anti-LGBTQ slurs and intimidating messages linked to Getchell and others, adding to community alarm and demands for accountability.
Community Reaction and Recovery
Local LGBTQ+ organizations and neighbors have called the sentence a step toward accountability but say it does not come close to erasing the harm McFarlane has suffered, The Advocate reports. Community fundraisers and a GoFundMe campaign have helped cover immediate costs, but friends say McFarlane will need long-term care and extensive rehabilitative therapy as his recovery continues.
Legal Context
Court records show prosecutors accepted a plea to a reduced charge of attempted manslaughter earlier this year, and Judge Kite imposed the seven-year term under that agreement, according to First Coast News. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has said that whether the attack qualifies under Florida’s hate crime statute will be resolved through later legal proceedings, a point noted in local coverage.
The case has reignited debate in Jacksonville over how authorities classify and prosecute bias-motivated violence, and advocates say they will continue to press for transparency as McFarlane’s care needs grow. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment, and Getchell’s attorneys did not return messages seeking their reaction.
