JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man who was shot and killed outside the Scottish Inn on Philips Highway last month was not the shooter's intended target, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
Andre Burkes, 48, has been charged with murder in the death of Timothy Tyrone Tyson, 52, a father of four.
"A funny guy, smiled a lot, just easygoing, you know, really easy to get along with -- that's what made us love him and everybody else love him," Joshua Tyson, one of Tyson's sons, told News4Jax. "We just are all trying to stay strong for each other and move forward. There’s nothing we can do to bring him back, but only thing we can do is stick together and pray and just remember him."
JSO Lt. Craig Waldrup said Tyson was found dead of a gunshot wound in the parking lot of the Scottish Inn just before 6 p.m. Jan. 29.
Waldrup said witnesses told police that Burkes and another person got into an argument in a motel room that spilled outside to the parking lot before Burkes pulled out a gun and fired a shot at the other person.
Instead, he hit Tyson, killing him, Waldrup said, adding that Tyson and Burkes did not know each other.
"Thank you to the witnesses who came forward to help us solve this crime," JSO wrote in a tweet announcing Burkes' arrest.
Burkes, who was arrested later at his home, has also been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Burkes has multiple previous arrests on suspicion of violent offenses, including aggravated battery, sexual assault, robbery, false imprisonment, domestic battery and burglary. He served a year in prison from 2004-05 for cocaine possession.
Joshua Tyson said he found out about the arrest Wednesday night, just days after his father's funeral. He said he and his family are relieved to know Burkes is off the streets.
"A little sigh of relief," Joshua Tyson said. "We are all grateful and really thankful that the detective was able to do his job and catch the guy. We all sleep a little better now, but it will never take away all the pain."