Jacksonville man accused of shooting, killing his wife

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A woman was shot dead in a Jacksonville apartment complex, and police believe her own husband gunned her down.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced the death of 34-year-old mother of eight Ashley Nicole Stephens on Saturday afternoon.

Ashley's cousin, Yucona Mosley, spoke only to Action News Jax Saturday.

“If felt like a lot of pain,” she said. “And I felt like, I don’t know, somebody was really crushing my heart.”

Police said they responded to Cross Creek Apartments on Manotak Avenue just after midnight, in response to gunshots heard in the area.

When officers arrived, they discovered Stephens deceased in the parking lot, officers said.

Homicide detectives identified 29-year-old Marco Jarell Stephens as the suspect. Ashley and Marco Stephens were reportedly still married but estranged.

Court records revealed Ashley filed for a temporary restraining order against Marco in December of 2017. Neither showed up to the hearing about two weeks later.

Information about what happened was shared with surrounding police departments, and Marco Stephens was located in Pasco County by local law enforcement driving Ashley Stephens' vehicle, JSO announced.

JSO said their homicide detectives are currently in Pasco County conducting investigative efforts.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said, "The suspect was arrested in Pasco County for the murder of Ashley Stephens."

Cox Media Group