Julius Parrish was killed in a drive-by shooting on June 30, 2012.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — First Coast Crime Stoppers is highlighting the unresolved case of a Jacksonville man who was fatally shot in a drive-by 13 years ago.
Julius Parrish was 48 when he was killed on the night of June 30, 2012. At a news conference with First Coast Crime Stoppers, his wife, Deborah, implored the community for assistance.
“It’s like every door that should have opened…for some reason it didn’t,” Deborah said.
The shooting took place around 11:30 p.m. Investigators reported that Julius was standing outside his Bunche Dr. home near Jacksonville’s Magnolia Gardens neighborhood with his godson. Someone drove by and opened fire, but to date, the reason why Julius was targeted remains unknown to investigators.
Detective Travis Oliver from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit noted that little evidence was obtained from the crime scene at the time and there was minimal cooperation from the community. To solve the case, Oliver mentioned that community members need to come forward with information.
“This case is definitely going to rely on the public stepping up and helping us with the information they have, and my question to the public or to those who know is, I would ask you to come forward and provide the information as if Mr. Parrish was your loved one,” Oliver stated.
First Coast Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 in cash for any tips that result in an arrest. During the news conference, Executive Director Chase Robinson presented pictures and maps of the neighborhood to potentially jog someone’s memory of that night.
“If you used to live in one of these homes, frequent the area, that you might remember something that maybe the shape of the house, the unique shape of a driveway, even the presence of a tree you might remember, and spark some images in your mind,” Robinson said.
Thirteen years later and Deborah is keeping her husband’s memory alive. She is calling on people do the right thing and help her find closure.
“He’s not dead. He’s just as bright as day everywhere I see him, he is not dead. Because they didn’t kill his spirit at all,” Deborah said.
If anyone has any information about Julius’ murder, call 866-845-TIPS or visit First Coast Crime Stoppers’ website. It is completely anonymous; Crime Stoppers does not take names or contact information.
