Family mourning Jacksonville teen killed after dice game

Authorities say man shot 16-year-old in courtyard of apartment complex

JACKSONVILLE – The grandmother of the Jacksonville teenager gunned down after a dice game is trying to understand why her beloved grandson was killed.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Sgt. Shawn Corsey said the teenager was shot in the courtyard at the Landon Imperial Apartments at 1913 Art Museum Drive just before 9:45 a.m. The boy was taken to an area hospital, where he died.

Jerline Sheffield said it was uncharacteristic of her grandson, Renard McKann, to experience conflict with others.

"It hurts so bad because he didn't bother people. He was a quiet boy. He stayed to himself," she said.

Sheffield said she found out about the shooting this morning when her daughter called her with the bad news. She rushed to the hospital.

"[The] doctor called us and they said they couldn't save him. They tried to work on him as much as they could but he didn't come back," she said.

Authorities said their investigation is ongoing.

"Once the dice game was over, the victim was in the courtyard when two black males approached them one of them had a gun and demanded money," Corsey said.

That's when one of the suspects shot McKann. Detectives don't know if they got any money before they shot him.

Sheffield said she thought her grandson was at the store.

"He wasn't a trouble maker. He'd be home sitting on the porch or stuff like that but not just roaming the street. He was a good boy," she said.