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Sentencing is underway for three men who pleaded guilty in the murder of a Black man in Jacksonville, Florida, per Action News Jax.
The three men — Ryan Nichols, Daniel DeGuardia, and Holden Dodson — were arrested after the body of Gary Jackson, 39, was found behind a dumpster in May 2023.
On the night of Jackson's murder, Dodson testified during a sentencing hearing that he, Nichols, and DeGuardia were drinking and doing cocaine before heading downtown.
At one point during the night, Nichols took off and chased Jackson. Nichols returned to the car and accused Jackson of stealing his gun, according to Dodson and DeGuardia.
DeGuardia testified that Nichols told him where to drive. Once the group found Jackson, DeGuardia said Nichols took Dodson's gun and pursued Jackson.
“He [Nichols] did say something along the lines of I know where you’re hiding. You’re about to get shot,” DeGuardia said.
Nichols allegedly shot Jackson several times behind a dumpster. He returned to the car, and the three men drove away.
“He [Nichols] said, ‘I just blew that n-word’s head off’, was one the things that was said. And, ‘nobody steals from me’. Almost bragging,” Dodson said.
Nichols pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Dodson and DeGuardia pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact.
Last week, Nichols was sentenced to 40 years in prison. DeGuardia and Dodson are set to be sentenced during a follow-up hearing.
Jackson's family had urged the judge to hand down the maximum sentence.
“Three monsters against one Black man. They chased my uncle down,” Jackson’s niece, Annequineice Johnson, said.
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