Dominic Jerome Broadus II, also known as D.J. Broadus, was found dead on February 3, 2018, in Macclenny, Florida. The 31-year-old was discovered behind a residence on Southern States Nursery Road, having been shot three times at close range in the head. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised numerous questions and concerns, particularly due to the involvement of Gardner Kent Fraser, the son of a former Jacksonville and Baker County sheriff's deputy.
Upon the arrival of Baker
County sheriff's deputies at the scene, Gardner Kent Fraser was present and was subsequently taken to the sheriff's office for further investigation. Despite being questioned, Fraser was not arrested and was later released. This decision sparked outrage and suspicion among Broadus' family and the community, who feared a potential conflict of interest due to Fraser's familial connections. The case was eventually handed over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to ensure transparency and impartiality in the investigation.
The investigation revealed that Broadus was unarmed at the time of his death, and his cellphone was never recovered. Additionally, there was at least one other person present at the scene, whose identity remains unknown to the public due to redactions in the police report. The lack of transparency and the involvement of a well-connected family have fueled concerns about the fairness of the investigation.
In January 2021, Gardner Kent Fraser was sentenced to one year in jail for tampering with evidence related to Broadus' death. Fraser had pleaded no contest to the charge, which stemmed from allegations that he disposed of Broadus' cellphone after the shooting. Despite the family's pleas for Fraser to be charged with murder, the court only pursued the evidence tampering charge. This outcome has left Broadus' family and supporters feeling that justice has not been fully served, and they continue to seek answers and accountability for his death.
