A Duval County jury has found 52-year-old Lionel Zecaja guilty of Armed Burglary, five counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery, and Shooting or Throwing Deadly Missiles, Florida State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced. Zecaja faces up to life in Florida State Prison, with sentencing to be determined by the Honorable London Kite at a later date.
The charges stem from a shooting incident on September 12, 2020, at a San Jose Forest apartment complex. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office patrol officers responded around 11 p.m. to reports of gunfire. A victim, shot inside an apartment, was transported to the hospital. Witnesses informed officers that Zecaja, the shooter, was located in a nearby apartment, where he was arrested. A firearm with an empty magazine was recovered from a bag in a closet in Zecaja’s residence.
The investigation revealed that prior to the shooting, Zecaja was struck on the head with a liquor bottle by an intoxicated individual, causing him to bleed. Zecaja retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and pursued the man while firing shots. Witnesses reported that Zecaja entered an apartment where five people had sought refuge, continuing to shoot and wounding one individual. He then aimed his weapon at three children, ages 15, 10, and 7. The 15-year-old boy confronted Zecaja, wrestled for the firearm, and forced him out of the apartment.
The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jalisa Curtis and Corie Posey.
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