Police: Clay County man shot, killed on Northside

Officers say gun recovered; neighbor may have been involved in confrontation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Neighbors tell Channel 4 that a man shot and killed late Thursday night was trying to break into Northside Jacksonville home and was shot by the homeowner.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to reports of gunfire on Bruce Street, just west of Main Street North, about 11:30 p.m.  Arriving officers found a man dead of gunshot wounds. Friday morning, police identified the victim as 35-year-old Gregory Lawley (pictured from 2009 Clay County arrest).

Clay County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Gregory Lawley from 2009 arrest

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"We located him on the street. At this time we don't know if he was shot on the property and went a distance and fell in the street, or if he was shot in the street," Sgt. Michael Paul said. "That's what we're working on right now to determine where he was shot and what exactly took place and what other people in the neighborhood saw."

Police at the scene did indicate the shooting may have occurred during a confrontation with the homeowner, but have not said whether the shooting was justifiable.

"At this time, detectives haven't spoken to him [homeowner]. He'll be taken to the homicide office to speak to detectives. We do have other individuals in the neighborhood who did see this specific homeowner, who we have in custody at this time, in a confrontation with our deceased male," Paul said.

Paul said a gun and other evidence was recovered from the scene.

Lawley has a long history of arrests in Clay County, including for burglary, aggravated battery, car theft and DUI.