JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man was denied bond Tuesday after being arrested and charged in the shooting death of a 2-year-old boy.
Steven Dodson Jr., 21, was taken into custody less than 24 hours after investigators said he shot and killed A’hmari Robinson during a domestic dispute late Sunday night, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
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The shooting occurred at Valencia Way Apartments, where investigators said a gun went off during a domestic argument, striking Robinson. Dodson then fled the scene, triggering a manhunt that ended with his arrest around midnight Monday.
At Tuesday’s bond hearing, the judge noted Dodson’s unusual absence from the proceedings.
“Mr. Dodson is not in the court today, but his case is,” the judge said.
Court records reviewed showed Dodson has had prior arrests over the past three years on charges including strong-arm robbery, domestic battery, and other offenses.
As the judge read off Dodson’s charges, emotions from A’hmari’s family spilled outside the courtroom.
“Pain. Anger and pain. Pain hurt,” one family member said. “And then we already getting fake pages just texting us and threatening. People want to fight my sister. Y’all don’t even know what she’s going through. Y’all don’t know what she went through.”
Another family member added: “We is hurting, ‘cause that baby didn’t deserve none of that.”
Dodson remains in custody. His next court date is set for April 15.
The family also started a GoFundMe account to help A’mahri’s family after the tragic loss.