JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Community members came together at a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening to remember a local father of four killed two months ago in Jacksonville Beach.
On Feb. 16, Jared Bridegan, 33, of St. Johns County, was gunned down in front of his 2-year-old daughter on Sanctuary Boulevard near J. Turner Butler Boulevard at the front of a quiet family neighborhood in Jacksonville Beach called Lake Sanctuary. Police said it was a targeted attack.
No arrests have been made. His widow, Kirsten Bridegan, said the vigil at South Beach Park aims to keep Jared Bridegan’s story alive in the community in the hopes of getting closer to answers, while also honoring his life.
Dozens of people gathering to honor the life of Jared Bridegan, the father that was shot and killed in Jacksonville Beach in February.
— Brie Isom (@BrieIsomWJXT) April 19, 2022
No arrests have been made in this case, so family wants to keep sharing Jared’s story, hoping to get some answers. @wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/aoHmbrbxjX
Kirsten Bridegan said dealing with this grief doesn’t get easier and the 2-year-old who witnessed her father’s murder still talks about her father. She said fighting for justice is helping her during this rough time.
“The way that I deal with it is fighting -- fighting for answers, fighting to get more people aware so that if someone knows something, they’ll hear about us, fighting they’ll hear about who Jared was, they’ll feel bad, they’ll have their conscience speak to them and they’ll come forward,” she said.
Dozens of people filled Sunshine Park to remember Jared Bridegan, where there was a three minute moment of silence, symbolizing the three minutes his daughter was left in the car on the night he was shot.
“It’s been two months and we still haven’t had an arrest or any significant movement of that nature, so we just want the community to know we’re still fighting and we need help,” Kirsten Bridegan said.
Friends of the family came out to support them.
“Jared was one of the most loving people I know. And genuine. It’s hard to fathom that this would happen,” said his friend, Brett Murray.
Prayers were said and candles were lit in hopes of answers about Jared Bridegan’s death.
Detectives said they need to find whoever was driving an older model blue Ford F-150, which they believe was likely involved in the murder. A tire that was left in the middle of the road that prompted Jared Bridegan to stop is a key piece of the puzzle.
A private donor helped raise Crime Stoppers reward to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of whoever killed Bridegan. That’s in addition to another $5,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, making tipsters eligible for $30,000 in reward money.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Jacksonville Beach Police Department at 904-270-1661. People can also send anonymous information to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.