JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 43-year-old man was found shot to death Sunday night in his home in the Grand Park neighborhood of Northwest Jacksonville, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Police identified the victim as Bernard Thomas Lowe. According to News4Jax records, this was the 51st homicide in Jacksonville this year.
Officers responded just after 10:30 p.m. to investigate after a friend found the Lowe dead inside his home on West 10th Street, police said.
“As far as I know right now is that someone came to the residence and located him,” said Chuck Fordham with the JSO homicide unit. “Based on the evidence, we are treating this as a homicide."
Investigators said they are working to determine if there were any signs of forced entry. Fordham said neighbors reported hearing multiple shots.
“Multiple gunshots could be from this residence, (or) they could be from another residence. We’re really not sure,” Fordham said.
Neighbors said the block is normally quiet, and most people did not know who lived there, only that the resident was a renter.
The home was surrounded with blue evidence tape for hours -- a sign that the investigation is far from over, according to News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith.
"That means they are not done with the crime scene the scene is still open to investigators," Smith said. "Once they are done and processed everything and done with the crime scene, they will remove that tape.
Detectives returned to the neighborhood about 3:30 p.m. Monday, going door to door. Smith said the home where the man was found will reveal a lot about the crime.
"That's why they take their time in processing the scene because the scene will actually speak to investigators. They will be able to back track and tell what happened, to a certain degree, based on what evidence is inside the home."
The JSO crime-mapping tool shows that in the last six months, within a half-mile radius, there were reports of:
- 30 assaults
- 10 burglaries
- Eight vehicle break-in/thefts
- Three motor vehicle thefts
- Two robberies
The Sheriff's Office continues to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward of up to $3,000, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
