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Arkansas woman, 21, killed while passing through Jacksonville

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Loved ones are mourning a young Arkansas woman who was shot and killed while passing through Jacksonville on her way to Atlanta earlier this month.

Destiny Dennis, 21, died Jan. 4 after she was dropped off with a gunshot wound at Baptist Medical Center in downtown Jacksonville that morning, according to a police incident report. 

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Her family said her loss has been difficult not only because she was so young, but also because there’s a lot of mystery surrounding the circumstances that led to her death.

Dennis’ mother, Emily Martin, told News4Jax she was in a car with a man and her 5-month-old daughter heading for Atlanta when they stopped at a Jacksonville gas station.

Though few details were listed in an incident report released by police, Martin said she believes her daughter was robbed at the gas station.

“There’s a lot of information that I don’t know what I can and cannot say because of the investigation being an ongoing investigation,” Martin said.

The narrative in the police report picks up with Dennis being taken to Baptist, where she was pronounced dead. The report did not specify the man's condition.

Dennis’ daughter was not hurt in the shooting and is staying with a relative in Arkansas, relatives said.

For now, this family will keep pushing for justice in an unfamiliar city, but they’re hopeful investigators will soon provide the answers they seek.


About the Author
Scott Johnson headshot

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.

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