Kurry Jackson, a 37-year-old African American man, was tragically shot and killed on July 13, 2020, in Gainesville, Florida. The incident occurred at the Days Inn hotel located on SW 13th Street. According to reports, Gainesville police responded to a call about shots fired at the hotel around 8 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Kurry Jackson inside his hotel room with gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to UF Health Shands Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The Gainesville Police Department launched an investigation to identify the perpetrator responsible for this heinous act.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was connected to a drug deal and robbery. Tyron Antwon Miller, a 25-year-old man from Orlando, was identified as the primary suspect. Miller was charged with murder while engaged in trafficking and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. The police were able to track down Miller through a combination of facial recognition software and camera footage from Florida toll booths, which showed the movements of a rented black Kia Optima used by the culprits. The footage indicated that Miller and an accomplice traveled from Orlando to Gainesville on the night of the shooting.
Further details emerged from the investigation, indicating that Miller had planned to rob Kurry Jackson during the drug deal. Witnesses and confidential sources provided information that helped the police piece together the events leading up to the murder. Miller's criminal history included previous convictions, and he had served time in state prison for various offenses. On the other hand, Kurry Jackson had a relatively minor criminal record, with only one case involving the pawning of a stolen speaker, which was dropped by prosecutors shortly after his death.
Miller was arrested and held without bail in the Alachua County Jail. During his first court appearance, he was deemed a low risk to flee and was thus eligible for bond. A public defender was appointed to represent him in the case. The Gainesville Police Department continued to seek information from the public to aid in their investigation, offering a reward for any leads related to the shooting. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in Gainesville, with the number of shootings in 2020 surpassing those of the previous year.
