JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A reward of $13,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the murders of Paige Pringle, 28, and Tara Baker, 53, who were killed in a double shooting early Wednesday morning near train tracks in San Marco, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced.
According to JSO, investigators believe on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at around 1:40 a.m., Pringle was stopped in a white SUV southbound on Hendricks Avenue at the railroad intersection as a train was crossing. At some point, an unknown individual(s) approached the victim as she sat in the vehicle and shot her multiple times – causing the vehicle to move forward, striking the train.
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At some point during the incident, a second woman, Tara Baker, was shot as she stood on a sidewalk waiting for the train to pass.
Both victims died as a result of the shootings.
“It is unknown at this time the motive for the shooting of each victim, or if they were somehow connected,” JSO said.
Jacksonville’s F.O.P. Foundation contributed $10,000 to the $3,000 reward already being offered for information leading to an arrest or arrests of those involved.
“Anytime that we can draw attention to a try to solve a crime, you know, not just for the community, but for the victims’ families, it’s so important,” said Randy Reaves, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5-30. “And it’s very important for what you guys do in the media to keep these stories out there so that the public stays engaged.”
Reaves said his group uses money from its charitable arm for cases that police need help solving. He said detectives had few leads and needed the public’s help.
“We really rely on our guys within within the sheriff’s office investigating these crimes, to show us the opportunities to where they truly have a case where they really are, depending on the public and someone coming forward,” he said, noting his group has posted rewards like this for other unsolved crimes in the area. “When they see an avenue to where they don’t have many leads, and they need the public’s help, we’re there to step up.”
Baker’s fiancé, Maurice Fisher, told News4JAX he hoped the reward would encourage someone to come forward with information.
To remain anonymous and be eligible for the reward, call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS or text **8477.
Tips can also be submitted online at http://www.fccrimestoppers.com.