JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 24-year-old Jacksonville man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of his 21-year-old girlfriend after trying to make it look like she committed suicide, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Friday.
The couple had a child together, according to police.
Tynikkia Tanner was found dead of a gunshot wound around midnight Oct. 6 at a home on Cleveland Road.
Police said they were called after a report of gunfire and met Dontonieo Sapp-Denson as he answered the door to the apartment where shots had been heard.
Sapp-Denson told police that Tanner had shot herself in the head, according to JSO.
Detectives said it became apparent as they processed the scene that Tanner's death was a homicide, not a suicide, and the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that suspicion.
Police said the evidence pointed to Sapp-Denson, Tanner's boyfriend and the father of her child, as the shooter.
A neighbor who knew Tanner said many of her neighbors strongly suspected Tanner was murdered because of events prior to the shooting.
“She had broken up with him. She refused to get back with him. She was trying to move on with her life, and he had threatened her -- that if he couldn’t have her, nobody else would," said the woman, who asked not to be identified.
Sapp-Denson was arrested around 5 a.m. Thursday and charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. His bond was set at $1.1 million. His arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 17.
Court records show Sapp-Denson had several arrests on charges that include domestic battery, grand theft and illegal possession of a concealed weapon.
Anyone with more information about the murder investigation is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500.
Domestic violence help
Hubbard House and other resources for domestic violence victims are available throughout Northeast Florida:
- Hubbard House (Baker and Duval counties): hubbardhouse.org or 904-354-3114
- Family Life Center (Flagler County): familylifecenterflagler.org or 386-437-3505
- Micah's Place (Nassau County): micahsplace.org or 904-225-9979
- Betty Griffin Center (St. Johns County): bettygriffincenter.org or 904-824-1555
- Quigley House (Clay County): quigleyhouse.org or 904-284-0061
- Lee Conlee House (Putnam County): leeconleehouse.org or 386-325-3141