‘Selected randomly’: Gunman killed lumber store employee, shot 2 Gainesville officers, chief says
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Gainesville Police Department Chief Nelson Moya shared the name of the gunman accused of killing a lumber store employee and wounding two officers on Wednesday morning.
The chief identified the shooter as Justin Dewayne Long, 31, during a Gainesville City Commission meeting on Thursday morning, where Moya updated commissioners on the incident.
Just before 8 a.m., officials say Long shot and killed Eduardo Pardo Rodriguez, 23, at Imeca Lumber & Hardware on East University Avenue. Rodriguez was an employee of the business.
“Sadly, we are learning that there is very little to no connection to the business. In fact, we are quickly learning that there is the appearance of an outset of a mental health issue here and that the victim, that was sadly selected, was selected randomly,” said GPD Chief Moya.
The chief identified the two officers wounded in the shooting as Sgt. Rob Kennedy and Officer Jessie Herringshaw. Both were released from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
Two Gainesville Police Department officers quickly responded to reports of shots fired at the business and saw Long appearing to flee in a car.
As they attempted to stop the vehicle, officials say Long exited and began firing on the officers. Two additional officers arrived at the scene, and Long was shot. He died at the hospital.
Two officers were wounded in the gunfight. They were taken to UF Health Shands for treatment and evaluation and released hours later.
Gainesville city commissioners addressed the deadly shooting during a commission meeting Thursday morning, with leaders discussing how the incident affects those in East Gainesville.
During their regular commission meeting, Mayor Harvey Ward and several other city commissioners took an hour at the beginning to talk about Wednesday’s deadly shooting on University Avenue and Waldo Road and its impact on the city’s eastside.
Several commissioners, along with Ward, said this was not how they wanted to start the year. However, they said that, though this tragedy occurred, the people of East Gainesville are not to blame, and that it was because of their quick actions that officers arrived at the scene quickly.
Ward said that in the last few years, the homicide rate in East Gainesville has dropped significantly.
“Years ago, we had 12 people, 16 people, multiple folks killed in our community,” Ward said. “Two years ago, that’s down to single digits, that’s down to 8 people. Tragedy, but half of what it was the year before.”
Ward said the decrease was not only thanks to the tireless work of first responders, but also the hard work done by community groups and neighbors who stand against gun violence.
Commissioners said the shooting was a scary time for the city, but it is not a true testament to the people who live and work there.
“I hope that you can come and patronize the businesses in District One. We need you. I hope that you will feel free to move to District One; we need you. We will not operate in the spirit of fear,” said Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker.
Commissioners also touched on the importance of recognizing poor mental health and how to better reach out to those around you.
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