JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Dollar General where three Black people died in a racist mass shooting in Jacksonville’s New Town area is reopening its doors on Friday.
It’s been four and a half months since an Orange Park man killed A.J. Laguerre Jr., Angela Carr and Jerrald Gallion at the store on Kings Rd.
Neighbors have mixed feelings about the reopening again because of the tragedy that took place behind those walls.
Dollar General says the store was remodeled. Customers can shop from the store's new produce section, expanded dollar deals aisle and health and beauty section. The store also has wider aisles, new lighting and flooring. '
Some tell First Coast News they will never step foot inside again, but others are happy because they say there aren’t many other stores around where they can get what they need.
Gary Nichols has lived in the New Town community for 40 years. He’s right around the corner from the place where three people lost their lives.
Nichols remembers it sounded like a war zone on Aug. 26, 2023, but he said he’s ready for the store to re-open.
“I feel like it should open because we don’t have anything in the neighborhood,” Nichols said. “Like I said before Burger King is closed, Subway is closed. We have to go a block or two blocks to get anything from a Dollar Store.”
21-year-old Ryan Palmeter killed Carr outside the store before going inside and shooting the two men. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said he was on a mission to kill black people.
People who live near the store said they’ll refuse to shop there because the thought of the evil that unfolded is too much to bear.
One woman who didn’t want to be identified said since the store’s been closed, the community has had few options to buy food and necessities.
“I feel a way about it because AJ was such a sweet person, but at the end of the day, the neighborhood does need a store, so I’m not going in there,” she said, “but I know other people in the neighborhood is going there because there’s no other store in the neighborhood.”
She said she’d be happier if it had been torn down and replaced with something new.
Meanwhile Nichols said he hopes the families get justice, but he believes the opening will make life easier for community members.
"Life goes on,” Nichols said. “We can't be afraid of what's going to happen. Anything can happen today or tomorrow, but we have to get past it and continue to live in the neighborhood."