JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A 33-year-old man was shot and killed early Monday morning in a restaurant parking lot in Jacksonville Beach, according to Sgt. Thomas Bingham with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department.
Witnesses said Roderick Montrell Batts was outside the Waffle House at Beach Boulevard and Third Street at about 3:30 a.m. -- perhaps smoking a cigarette -- when they heard three gunshots.
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Batts was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses also said they saw two men running to a car about a block away. Police said that car was described as a dark four-door sedan, possibly a burgundy Buick.
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Investigators have not released many details of the case, but did tell Channel 4's Jason Law they do not believe it was a robbery attempt.
Batts, who lives on Jacksonville's Northside, had dozens of misdemeanor citations ranging from speeding tickets to animal control violations, but no record of being involved in any violent crime.
Investigators cleared the scene just before 8 a.m. and the restaurant reopened.
One Waffle House customer said he was not surprised there was a fatal shooting at Jacksonville Beach.
"People are crazy now and life's not valuable anymore, so there's an increase in shootings and robberies," Bruce Bradberry said. "I think the beaches have gone downhill in the 25 years I've lived here."
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.