2nd murder charge filed against man accused of killing former Jacksonville radio personality who was pregnant

Bursey Armstrong now charged with 2 counts of 2nd-degree murder

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A second murder charge has been filed against a man accused of killing a former radio personality in Jacksonville who was pregnant, according to Duval County court records.

Bursey Armstrong, 33, was already charged with one count of second-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Tasheka Young, and the State Attorney’s Office told News4JAX that a second count was added for Young’s unborn child. It’s unclear how far along she was in her pregnancy.

On July 23, according to Armstrong’s original arrest warrant, Young’s mother found her daughter’s body inside Young’s Northside apartment on Biscayne Boulevard after not being able to get in touch with Young. Young’s two children, ages 1 and 3, were also inside the residence, the warrant shows.

The warrant states Young’s mother told police that her daughter and Armstrong, whom the document lists as the father of Young’s children, had a violent relationship, with Young telling her mother that Armstrong had held a gun to her head two weeks earlier.

Police searched his cellphone, the warrant states, finding evidence of “the volatile history of the relationship,” including photos of a knife and a gun. Young sent Armstrong a text with the picture of a gun and said, “This is the same gun you held to my head,” according to the warrant.

The warrant notes that while researching Armstrong, there was a documented history of domestic violence, saying there was a felony domestic battery report written in May 2021, but the victim did not follow through with an injunction for protection.

“Duval County averages about between 5,000 and 6,000 injunctions,” said Karen Williams, the director of specialized services at the Hubbard House, a local domestic violence center. “We need to trust that the survivor knows what they’re doing was in their best interest at that time and not just judge them based on that action or what we would have done because we’re not in that situation.”

Investigators said a search of Armstrong’s car and his residence turned up clothes that appeared to be bloody, a gun and ammunition. He was arrested July 24.

Young worked as a radio personality at Power 106.1 in Jacksonville before becoming a teacher. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bethune-Cookman University. She was expecting her third child when she was killed last month.

As of Wednesday, Armstrong remained in the Duval County jail, where he’s being held without bond, according to jail records.

Duval County court records show Armstrong is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

Tasheka Young

Domestic violence resources

If you or someone you know is or has been a victim of domestic violence or abuse, there are local resources available:

  • The Florida Domestic Violence Hotline, which will direct you to the nearest shelter, is 1-800-500-1119.
  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24 hours a day. The number is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
  • The Betty Griffin Center in St. Johns County can be reached at 904-824-1555.
  • The hotline number of Quigley House in Clay County is 904-284-0061.
  • The hotline number of Micah’s Place in Nassau County is 904-225-9979.
  • The Hubbard House in Jacksonville can be reached by dialing 904-354-3114.

About the Authors:

A Florida-born, Emmy Award winning journalist and proud NC A&T SU grad