JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A St. Johns County teen and two others have been arrested and accused in connection with a murder in downtown Jacksonville.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Ryan Nichols, a 19-year-old who lives in Fruit Cove, has been accused of second-degree murder after a man was found dead Tuesday on West Ashley Street.
Daniel DeGuardia, an 18-year-old who also lives in St. Johns County, and Holden Dodson, a 21-year-old who lived in St. Augustine but recently moved to Jacksonville’s Westside, face charges of accessory after the fact.
According to arrest reports, the victim was being chased by a man on foot. The victim then tried to hide behind a dumpster and two other men followed them in a Jeep.
The report said after interacting with the victim, the suspect got in the Jeep and they drove away.
Most of the incident was captured on surveillance video, according to JSO, but it’s unclear why the man was shot. His identity was also not released.
During the first appearance for DeGuardia and Dodson on Thursday, the state attorney’s office asked for a $500,000 bond on the accessory charge for DeGuardia and a $200,000 bond for Dodson, due to possible hate crime enhancements and the judge granted that bond. The report doesn’t specify why possible enhancements of a hate crime are included in their charges.
There was no such request for hate crime enhancements for the accused shooter, Nichols. He’s being held without bond. Dodson did not appear.
JSO and members of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office were seen executing a warrant on Wednesday at the home of DeGuardia in a subdivision off County Road 210.
JSO said its investigation started after someone walking on West Ashley Street near Clay Street downtown spotted a man lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound Tuesday morning. The bystander then flagged down a JSO bailiff who was walking to the courthouse, and the bailiff called JSO dispatch to report it at about 6:45 a.m. Multiple shell casings and an extended magazine were found next to him.
With the coordinated efforts of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Homicide, Crime Gun Intelligence Center, and Community Problem Response Units, as well as the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and SWAT Team, JSO said the vehicle used and the suspects responsible for the murder were found, JSO said.
News4JAX saw a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee being towed away from the home of DeGuardia in the Stonehurst Plantation subdivision on Wednesday while law enforcement was there for the warrant.
