JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Four weeks have elapsed since a man was shot and killed in a neighborhood on Jacksonville's Northside.
Byron Wesley Walker, 41, was found with "multiple gunshot wounds" by patrol officers in the 10500 block of Maidstone Cove Drive on May 23, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. He was taken to UF Health, where he later died.
On Friday, the sheriff's office told First Coast News the Crime Stoppers reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible has been increased to $20,000.
Shortly after the incident happened, police said one person had been detained, as an investigation by JSO and the State Attorney's Office is currently ongoing.
Walker was an Army veteran, U.S. Army spokesperson Heather Hagan confirmed to First Coast News on Thursday. He was a cargo specialist in the Army Reserve from January 2000 to March 2008, he held the rank of staff sergeant and had no deployments, Hagan said.
"Whenever we would talk, it was like we never missed a beat no time had passed," said Darryl Snyder, a friend of Walker.
"We were two peas in a pod," said Justin West, another friend of Walker.
For over 20 years, Snyder and West were able to call Walker a dear friend, roommate and military fraternity brother. They also said he was a kind and loving person and a devoted father.
"Byron and I really weren’t friends. We were brothers," said West.
Sadly, now the two are only left with the memories of Walker.
"Devasting, my heart was ripped out," said West. "At that moment, the breath was taken out of my body. My heart stopped. And the pain just set in."
"I just hope more for the family, that they find peace and justice in the situation and that this is solved quickly," Snyder added.
Anyone with information related to Walker's killing is asked to call JSO's non-emergency number at 904-630-0500, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for the reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.