In the late evening of Thursday, March 5, 2026, gunfire shattered the peace of a neighborhood on West 12th Street in Apopka, Florida, forever altering the lives of a local family. Jamarrion Jay Griffin, a 21-year-old man, was at a family home, a familiar place for gatherings and celebrations, to play video games with his cousins when the shooting erupted around 9:20 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing a barrage of gunshots and seeing a car speeding away from the scene immediately after.
In the chaotic aftermath, it was discovered that four men, ranging in age from 21 to 48, had been shot.
Jamarrion, known affectionately as "Jay" to his loved ones, was critically injured in the targeted attack. He was rushed to the hospital, where he fought for his life for two days. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, March 7, 2026. The three other victims of the shooting were also hospitalized but were eventually released. His mother, Latoya Banks, a nurse, received the devastating news while at work and described her son as a great kid who could hold a conversation with anyone and had no known conflicts.
Remembered as a hardworking and ambitious young man, Jamarrion was an Eagle Scout who held down two jobs, one at Wingstop and another with his family's cleaning business. He had aspirations of following in his older brother's footsteps by enlisting in the Air Force and was preparing to take that step before his life was cut short. His family and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil the following Monday to honor his memory at the home where the shooting occurred.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating the quadruple shooting as a targeted incident and an active and ongoing case. Investigators collected dozens of pieces of evidence and bullet casings from the street, and noted bullet holes in several vehicles. While a person was taken into custody at a secondary scene where a white Infiniti Q50 was towed, authorities have not confirmed if the two scenes are related or if that individual is a suspect in the shooting. As of now, no arrests have been announced in connection with the murder of Jamarrion Griffin, and his family continues to hope for justice.
