JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Authorities apprehended a 44-year-old man Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting of another man at a residential garage in the Mandarin area. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Rustic Green Court, where officers discovered 43-year-old Stephen Shahly deceased.
Shahly’s family remembered him fondly, with his brother-in-law describing him as an exemplary father and a community-oriented individual. “He was a great person and even better as a father,” the brother-in-law stated. Residents expressed their disbelief over the incident, noting it was an unusual occurrence in their neighborhood. One neighbor commented on the tragedy, calling it a “sad thing” and emphasized that such events were not typical for their area.
The police identified Donald Rentfrow Jr. as the alleged shooter. Following a search warrant executed at his residence on Tuesday morning, Rentfrow was taken into custody after cooperating with law enforcement during his interview.
This incident added to a troubling trend of gun violence in Jacksonville, marking it as the 10th shooting in the city since Friday evening and the third in just 24 hours. The recent spike in violence has raised concerns among community members and local authorities alike.
In related instances, police reported that a man died Monday night at a business on Baymeadows Road, where the shooter called 911 after the event. Authorities took the individual in for questioning. Earlier that same day, a separate shooting left a man hospitalized after he was shot multiple times outside his home in Northwest Jacksonville; his condition was stabilized.
As the community reels from the recent violence, local leaders are calling for increased dialogue and measures to address the ongoing issue of gun-related incidents. The need for solutions remains a priority as residents push for a safer environment.