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Police arrest Fernandina Beach man in fatal shooting of roommate
A 25-year-old man is in custody after a shooting early Tuesday morning left his roommate dead, according to the Fernandina Beach Police Department.
Police said Ty William Richardson Jr. was arrested on a manslaughter charge in connection with the incident, which investigators described as an “isolated incident.” Officers were dispatched around 3:30 a.m. to a residence near South 13th Terrace after receiving a report of a person who had been shot.
In a social media post issued about 5 a.m., police said officers were working an active scene but emphasized there was no threat to the public.
According to the arrest report, an officer who entered the home found Richardson “trying to help his friend … who he had shot.” The victim, described in the report as a 5-foot-8 male, was Richardson’s roommate. A witness told police the two men were best friends, worked together, and had returned home together around 1 a.m.
Officers arrived within three minutes and began life-saving measures until the Fernandina Beach Fire Department arrived, police said. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to UF Health Jacksonville, where he later died at approximately 10:15 a.m.
Richardson told investigators the two were “playing around with the gun” and said he “never should have put a gun in his hand,” according to the arrest report.
Richardson was booked into the Nassau County Jail. Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
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aeangarola
We are ALL to be held accountable for this tragedy.
A young life is lost, and numerous other lives will be changed forever by this avoidable act of gun violence. My heart weeps for the families and friends affected. I am incredibly sad, but also angry and so frustrated. As a Florida resident, we live in a state where common sense gun laws are the exception. We allow for open carry of a firearm WITHOUT a permit. If a permit was required, it could include training around securely handling and storing firearms along with other responsible gun ownership lessons. But instead, most of our local legislative leaders are pushing for looser gun ownership laws such as lowering the age to 21 to own a long gun (without permit) and open carry-on college campuses (without a permit). I pray that more / all of us, will speak out for gun safety legislation. Why do we sit back and allow for these horrible tragedies? Isn’t this just common sense?
Ann Angarola
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
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