JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of a 2-year-old boy during a domestic dispute, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Steven Dodson Jr. was taken into custody overnight after being identified as the person involved in the dispute Sunday night that led to the deadly shooting of 2-year-old A’mahri Robinson.
Police said that after the shooting at the Valencia Way Apartments on Labelle Street, Dodson ran from the scene near Cassat Avenue.
Investigators, including the U.S. Marshals, had been searching for Dodson to arrest him and he was taken into custody within 24 hours.
Dodson is now facing charges of murder, attempted murder, child endangerment, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Friends and family described A’mahri as a joyful and lively toddler.
“He was just a happy baby, real happy baby,” said Rayniah Wilson, who knew the child. “He was loved by everybody.”
She added that he loved to run around the apartment complex with his sippy cup, wearing only a pull up.
“When I got the news at midnight, I broke down crying… It’s just too much. Now she [A’mahri’s mother] has to think about planning a funeral," Wilson said, reflecting on the impact of his death.
Wilson started a GoFundMe account to help A’mahri’s family after the tragic loss.
According to court documents obtained by News4JAX, Dodson was sentenced to 20 months in prison for robbery in October 2024 for a December 2022 incident on 103rd Street.
Dodson has a lengthy criminal history, including a misdemeanor domestic battery charge from 2023.
His record also includes a 2023 misdemeanor domestic battery arrest and multiple charges in June 2024, including unlicensed carrying of a concealed firearm and resisting an officer without violence.
“This is a heartbreaking case, and our thoughts remain with the child’s family,” a JSO spokesperson wrote in the announcement of Dodson’s arrest. “Justice is in motion.”