A Duval County jury has found 24-year-old Xavier Salter guilty of Manslaughter in connection with the death of a man found inside a burned vehicle on Lenox Avenue in Jacksonville. State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced the verdict, and Salter now faces up to 15 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Lindsay Tygart will determine his sentence at a later date.
On May 29, 2023, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene after Jacksonville Fire and Rescue discovered a body inside the burned car. The Medical Examiner’s Office determined the victim died from blunt force trauma, thermal injuries, and inhalation of combustion products.
A Crime Stopper tip the next day implicated Salter and a co-defendant. Investigators determined that Salter, the co-defendant, and the victim were transient and had used the abandoned vehicle and nearby property as shelter.
Salter told police that the victim had stolen and eaten their food, leading to a confrontation. He and the co-defendant assaulted the victim, who threatened to report them to authorities. According to investigators, the co-defendant then told Salter to leave, stating he would kill the victim. Surveillance footage showed Salter running away three minutes before smoke was seen rising from the scene.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jaclyn Blair and Loana Nardoni.
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