JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 20-year-old is under arrest, accused of striking and killing a man while street racing in a Westside neighborhood in May.
Joe Willbanks, 34, was hit in front of his own home on Nussbaum Drive as he chased after his dog.
Lavonte Northern (pictured below) was arrested in late October on vehicular homicide charges. The arrest report said Northern was going 78 mph on the residential street, apparently racing another car prior to hitting Willbanks.
Northern also lived in the neighborhood, but residents said he was forced to move.
"He got death threats," said Stacy Stephens. "People threatened to burn his trailer down and threatened to come over there and harm him and all this other stuff. He was not welcome in this neighborhood anymore."
Willbanks' family says they are also frustrated it took so long to make an arrest.
"This happened in May of this year and then he just got arrested in October, late October," said Wanda Willbanks, the victim's stepmother. "I mean, how much time do they need?"
Willbanks' neighbors are also concerned the arrest took took too long.
Many of those touched by Willbanks' death recently learned of an arrest in the case and are not happy it took so long.
"There was clear evidence. You could see from the skid marks and all that stuff. He ran him down. He should have been arrested right then and there."
Wanda Willbanks says her family wants the maximum penalty for Northern for the pain he caused.
Those in the neighborhood are also concerned the problem of street racing in the neighborhood continues and people are still at risk.
"They still street race," said Stephens. "They drag race from one end to the other. It's horrible."