A dispute between neighbors at a Jacksonville apartment complex ended with a 27-year-old man shot dead and a 70-year-old man behind bars, all within the span of about 15 hours. Dakaari Bray was shot in the chest just after midnight on Monday at a complex on West 13th Street in Durkeeville, and he died before he could get medical attention.
The shooting was reported on West 13th Street in Durkeeville. News4Jax describes the property as a house, while Action News Jax describes it as an apartment complex.
Officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to the shooting just after midnight. Investigators determined that an argument between residents of neighboring apartment units escalated into a fight, and that is when, police say, 70-year-old Willie Smith pulled out a gun and shot Bray in the chest, according to News4Jax.
Smith was arrested the same day and accused of manslaughter and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, per the station's report. He was booked into the Duval County jail by 3:30 p.m. Monday, just hours after the shooting was first reported.
Homicide Detectives Move Fast on Arrest
Smith was arrested later that day after the overnight shooting.
The circumstances that sparked the argument between the neighboring residents have not been detailed beyond the account that it led to a physical fight before the shooting, according to the same account. The case remains under investigation, and no additional details about the dispute have been released.
Smith faces manslaughter and aggravated-battery charges. The charges do not by themselves establish what happened or determine guilt.
Smith's plea, bond status, and any future court appearances have not been disclosed.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office detectives detained multiple witnesses for interviews following the shooting, part of the effort that led to Smith's arrest later that day. Investigators have said the case remains open.
