JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville authorities are searching for a suspect after a 2-year-old child was killed during a shooting late Sunday night.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred just before midnight on March 22, 2026, at the Eureka Garden Apartments in the 1200 block of Labelle Street near Cassat Avenue in the Hillcrest area.
Investigators say 21-year-old Steven Dodson Jr. was involved in a dispute inside an apartment when a firearm was discharged. During the incident, a 2-year-old boy was fatally shot.
Dodson fled the scene, and officers, detectives, and members of the U.S. Marshals Service have been searching for him since the shooting was reported.
He is described as approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Authorities say he has tattoos on his neck, right hand, and chest and should be considered armed and dangerous.
Police say Dodson will face multiple charges upon arrest, including murder, attempted murder, child endangerment, tampering with evidence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500. Tips can also be submitted to the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-926-8332 or online at USDOJ.gov/Marshals.
Anonymous tips can be reported to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. A reward of up to $5,000 may be available.
The investigation remains ongoing.