JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Jacksonville Beach Police are honing in on a shooting suspect by following his trail on social media.
Malik Robinson, 18, is accused of shooting a 16-year-old in the leg near the Seawalk Pavilion on March 15, during spring break. The victim is still recovering.
Police have been looking for Robinson for several weeks. He's nowhere to be found, but apparently, he's keeping connected with his friends on Twitter, where he refers to himself as "Jacksonville's Most Wanted."
News4Jax found the account, and Jacksonville Beach detectives confirmed it is Robinson's. They know he's posting from somewhere, even though they haven't been able to catch him.
In one tweet, he wrote, "I'm be fresh as hell when the Feds come."
In another, he wrote, "I know Imma beat the case I just don't wanna turn myself in."
Later, he wrote that he's in Mexico and wanted to give a "S/O (shoutout) to my lawyer if I get caught."
Robinson (pictured) complained, "I haven't seen my mama in a week...(it) hurt me deeply to hear she was crying" and then tweets "Only thing I'm worried about is that I'm probably not gonna graduate."
Several of his friends left messages on his account, showing their support and wishing him well.
"We're just using all of our resources to try to get him located and apprehended," said Cmdr. Mark Evans of the Jacksonville Beach Police Department.
Investigators said they've received several tips about Robinson's social media postings, and they're teaming up with other agencies to hopefully catch the tech-savvy teen very soon.
"We definitely need the public's help so that when he is seen or located, they can tip us off, so that he can be apprehended," Evans said.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said he thinks the brazen broadcasts could be the break police need to get their guy.
"He's wanted for a serious crime and is pretty much just antagonizing them, with a 'catch me if you can' type thing, is what he's doing," Smith said. "But I think he may be trying to throw off law enforcement, trying to throw them off his trail (by saying he's in Mexico). I don't think he'd be putting on social media his exact location, because obviously he doesn't want to get caught."
Robinson recently tweeted "Im finna go turn myself in." If he does, News4Jax will update this story.
Anyone with information on Robinson's location is asked to call JBPD detectives at 904-271-1661.