JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The sister of a man shot and killed in downtown Jacksonville asked the judge in court Tuesday for the maximum sentence for the three men accused in his murder.
Gary Jackson was found shot behind a dumpster on West Ashley Street on May 2, 2023.
Ryan Nichols, 20, was sentenced to 40 years for killing Jackson.
Daniel DeGuardia, 12, and Holden Dodson, 22 were charged with accessory after the fact.
In court, Jackson’s sister gave an emotional victim impact statement, saying she “feels sorrow and empty” after his murder, especially knowing he begged for his life in his final moments.
“I hurt for my brother,” the sister said. “Thinking he was running for his life, those final moments of his life. I close my eyes and try to imagine being chased in downtown Jacksonville. He didn’t stand a chance.”
She said his 9-year-old daughter kept asking “Why did they kill my dad?” The sister said she wasn’t able to answer that question.
Detectives said surveillance footage from nearby businesses showed a man with what appeared to be a handgun chasing Jackson while a Jeep Grand Cherokee trailed behind them.
Jackson appeared to hide behind the dumpster. the handgun was raised and multiple muzzle flashes were seen.
The sister asked Judge Anthony Salem to sentence all three men to the maximum, so her family could have justice.
Dodson and DeGuardia offered apologies to Jackson’s family.
“The horrible crime will forever be etched into my memory,” Dodson said during his statement.
He also said he has been seeing a psychiatrist for years for depression.
DeGuardia told the court he let his “life slip out of control” after his father died from COVID-19.
“I know I messed up,” DeGuardia said.
Nichols said he wished he’d done things differently that night and asked the court for mercy.
Relatives of all three men spoke on their behalf and pleaded for leniency.
Nichols’ grandmother, who raised him, begged for mercy, mentioning he was removed from his parents at 4 years old because of drug use and domestic abuse in the household.
DeGuardia’s and Dodson’s mothers also pleaded for the court’s mercy, saying the two young men made mistakes and took responsibility for their actions.
Judge Salem said his “heart breaks” for the Jackson family before sentencing Nichols to 40 years in prison.
Dodson and DeGuardia’s sentencing is scheduled for June 28. They face up to 15 years.