DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — Questions still remain about the death of Jared Bridegan, a 33-year-old father of four who was shot and killed in front of his 2-year-old daughter.
As time passes, we are learning more about the tragedy.
“It’s just so sad the kids lost their father,” neighbor Mark Warski said.
The Jacksonville Beach Police Department told Action News Jax the shooting is believed to be targeted based off the circumstances, but are unsure how and it’s still unclear if Bridegan was the specific target.
Action News Jax was told over the phone by Sergeant Tonya Tator that he was shot multiple times and from roughly three to four feet away.
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Neighbor Mark Warski heard the shots from across the street, but nothing else.
“I was really surprised because I didn’t hear anything at all,” Warski said when talking about any sounds before or after the shooting. “I didn’t hear any arguments or raised voices, basically all I heard were the shots.”
A car tire is still a major piece of evidence because police say it was already on the road as Bridegan’s hazard lights were on and he was found on the ground next to the driver-side door.
Action News Jax Law and Safety expert, Dale Carson, who has years of experience in law enforcement, says the tire could’ve been used as a setup.
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“When there’s an obstruction in the road, that’s an old trick and the trick is we put something in the road, the train stops, or in this case the car, the robbers then do what they need to do,” Carson said.
Carson said the next step here is looking for past defenders with a similar M.O.
“They will be looking for people recently released from jail, recently released from prison, people who have as their method of operation, their M.O.,” Carson said. “These kinds of assaults, which is really an ambush when you think about it.”
Police also said the route they put up was the route Bridegan took the night of the shooting. which is why they are desperately looking for any information and footage.
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With a memorial now in the area of Jacksonville Drive and Sanctuary Boulevard where it happened, neighbors like Warski are hoping the family can find some closure soon.
“I just want to send my love to them and I hope they can process it and get through it okay,” he said.
There is now a reward of up to $8,000 with any information that can lead to the arrest of whoever killed Bridegan.
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