JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two years after a Jacksonville family lost a loved one to gun violence, the case remains unsolved.
Jacquez Anlage was killed right before his 21st birthday at an apartment complex in Arlington. Ensuring his name isn’t forgotten, his family put together a vigil Monday night in Memorial Park.
“He was a wonderful person and whoever did this, they obviously didn’t know the kind of person he was,” said Anlage’s mother, Crystal.
She says, if anything, things have gotten more difficult after two years — not easier. That’s two years without closure for her family.
They want someone in the community to speak up.
“I just want to make sure on this day every year — because it changed our lives so dramatically — that we take time to honor his life,” Anlage’s mother said.
The mother fostered Anlage at age 15 and adopted him when he was 16 years old. He had dreams of one day becoming a veterinary technician.
“He loved animals. He loved his family,” his mother said.
“Our whole city is hurting. There are far too many families like myself and my husband that are walking through this,” she added.
Latasha Hobbs’ son, Maurice, was murdered in 2017.
“My son was murdered 2,090 days ago,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs is still searching for answers as well — and she wants to be there for Anlage’s family.
“This is a journey that no parent deserves to walk, however, we’re here and we didn’t have a choice to walk this journey, but we have a choice to make a difference,” Hobbs said.
In Anlage’s case, police were called to an Apartment Complex on Arco Drive at about 7 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2020. Maurice Hobbs was killed in the Southside Estates neighborhood just days after his 18th birthday.
A billboard was placed earlier this year to celebrate what would have been his 23rd birthday.
Anyone with information in either case can contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida anonymously or the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.