JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An anti-violence group on Tuesday night identified a father and husband who was found fatally shot a week ago in Jacksonville’s Longbranch neighborhood.
According to Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social-Disorder, known as MAD DADS, James Barron, 37, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of Nov. 28 outside the Sanctuary Walk apartment complex on East 21st Street. A representative for MAD DADS said Barron was attempting to make a delivery for DoorDash when he was killed.
In a statement to News4JAX, a DoorDash spokesperson said, “We are saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the victim’s family. We hope those responsible for this terrible crime are brought to justice and we stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation to the fullest extent.”
MAD DADS said Barron leaves behind a wife and six children.
“To have your husband and a father taken away from you in an instant, I mean, can you imagine how they’re doing?” said MAD DADS coordinator AJ Jordan. “I mean, they’re not doing good.”
The nonprofit group said Barron’s daughter was also in the car where he was shot to death, but it is not clear how old she is, as the family is concealing her identity for her safety.
Jordan said Barron’s family relayed the shooting stemmed from a robbery by a young man.
“Somebody come up once again, demanding he get out the car, and start shooting,” Jordan said. “I mean, what can we say at this point?”
Police said gunshots struck the side of the apartment building.
Jordan said that once the car stopped and Barron was shot, Barron’s daughter jumped out of the vehicle and ran to seek help immediately.
“‘She got out to go to a safe place and called the authorities for her father and for police to start their investigation,” said Jordan. “So in essence, she’s a hero in a way.”
Barron’s body was found inside his white Ford Mustang with one gunshot wound. The responding officer reported that the car was still in drive, with the wheels spinning and crashed into the building.
His body was transported to the medical examiner’s office for a full autopsy to determine his cause of death.
Jordan said Barron’s daughter was not hurt, but now she and her other siblings will be spending the holidays without their father.
“You got Christmas coming up. You got gifts under the tree, and dad won’t be there to open them,” Jordan said. “It’s devastating for our city once again.”
More than a week later, part of the apartment complex was blocked off with tape, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has not identified the shooter.
Law enforcement has contacted all possible witnesses and residents who live at the complex. If you or someone you know has any information, you are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477), JSO at 904-630-0500 or MAD DADS directly on Facebook.
“We need to get these criminals off our streets. They are literally killing us,” said Jordan.
A funeral service is scheduled for later this week in Savannah, Georgia, Jordan said.
Editor’s note: This article originally said that MAD DADs reported Barron and his daughter were attempting to make a Grubhub delivery when he was killed. Grubhub says Barron was not a current employee who was making a delivery for the company.