Cops: Man fatally shot during dispute

Victim identified as Tony Vanlandingham, 28

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man was shot and killed during a dispute in an Intracoastal West neighborhood early Monday morning, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Tony Vanlandingham, 28, was shot during a dispute in the 1600 block of Bermuda Road near San Pablo.

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News4Jax spoke to Vanlandingham's family to find more about him and why the shooting may have happened.

Rose Childress, Vanlandingham's aunt, said she and her family are torn up about what happened.

"It broke my heart this morning when I found out," Childress said.

"(He was the) kindest person you'd ever meet in your life," said Nancy Backham, Vanlandingham's cousin. "He did not deserve this today at all. He did not deserve to die today like this, especially not like this."

Childress said Vanlandingham was stabbed at around 1 a.m. Monday. He went to his girlfriend's home on Bermuda Road, just south of Atlantic Boulevard, when he was shot about four times outside the apartment complex.

"It's always been a good neighborhood. I've grown up there my whole life. Nothing's ever happened like this out there," Beckham said.

"It tears me up inside to have somebody go and take somebody else's life for no reason -- it's plain stupidity. In this world, I see it going away in a hand basket," said his friend, Jason Fowler.

Police have a suspect in custody and are interviewing several witnesses.

Vanlandingham's family said he did not know the shooter. Vanlandingham lived with his mom, whom he took care of. Childress said his parents, brother and sister are not doing well at all.

"I just hope and pray somebody would try to help get the money up and help them bury their son," said Childress.

Investigators say they are still working to get details surrounding the shooting death, but say everyone involved knew each other and lived in the area.


About the Authors:

Emmy-nominated journalist Kristin Cason joined the News 6 team in June 2016.