JACKSONVILLE, Fla — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced an arrest in a murder investigation Tuesday after a deadly shooting on Jan. 6.
JSO Direct of Investigations and Homeland Security Mike Bruno announced the arrest of Greggory James. He is charged with murder in the death of 32-year-old Justin Sumler on the 2400 block of Edison Street.
Witnesses from the scene told police they saw a black Nissan fleeing the scene with a Texas tag. Officers saw a black Nissan nearby and initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled, Bruno said.
During the pursuit, a Texas tag was thrown from the window, along with a .45-caliber handgun, Bruno said. Both items were later recovered.
The suspects crashed, then ran away, after a short pursuit. Officers' bodycam footage shows the suspects running away before the officers were able to arrest them, Bruno said.
One of the suspects had changed clothes from the time of the shooting to the time of the arrest, Bruno said.
"We had witnesses at the scene who were struggling to give us an identity of the suspect," Bruno said. "So we weren't able to charge them with the murder immediately. We were able to kind of piece this together through our investigative efforts."
Those efforts included obtaining DNA from the firearm, as well as from the original sweatshirt described by witnesses as what the suspect was wearing at the scene, Bruno said.
On Jan. 15, JSO executed a warrant and arrested James on murder charges.
Police are continuing to work the case, with a second suspect, Delquan McGriff, whom investigators are working to bring charges against, Bruno said.
