State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced today that a Duval County jury has found 57-year-old Anthony F. Brooks guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The conviction stems from the shooting death of his nephew. Brooks now faces a potential sentence of up to life in Florida State Prison, with The Honorable London Kite scheduled to deliver the sentence at a later date.
The incident occurred on July 6, 2024, when officers responded to a crash on Myrtle Avenue. A witness and first responders discovered the victim suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. He later died at the hospital.
Homicide detectives took over the investigation, which revealed that the victim and his daughter had attended a family gathering earlier that day, where Brooks, the victim’s uncle, was also present. An argument between Brooks and the victim led to the victim leaving the home.
ShotSpotter technology later detected shots fired on Ella Street just before midnight, where four shell casings were recovered in the road. Around 5:30 a.m., Brooks went to an acquaintance’s home. When the acquaintance did not answer, Brooks spoke to a doorbell camera, confessing to shooting and killing the victim. Brooks claimed the shooting was in self-defense, asserting the victim was armed; however, evidence from the victim’s phone refuted this claim. Brooks has been a convicted felon since 1987, making his possession of a firearm illegal.
The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Annie Maguire and Jay Plotkin.
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