Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend's lover remains in critical condition

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The suspected shooter of a 34-year-old Jacksonville man remains in critical condition.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says that the suspect was taken to UF Health Friday night after he shot and killed Nicholas Hare, then shot himself.

Police say Hare was the boyfriend of the suspect's ex-girlfriend, Lindsey Varner, who identified the shooter to police.

It happened at Varner’s Spring Park home.

Hare was finishing up an engineering degree at University of North Florida.

His mother, Dorinda Nettleton, says that the suspect in this case is Jarod Miller.

She says Miller dated her son’s girlfriend for a long time, but that relationship ended three years ago.

She says there were no warning signs that she is aware of leading up to the shooting.

Nettleton tells Action News that her son was a cautious person, who was 6-foot-8 and had his concealed-weapons permit.

She says the night of the shooting, Nic didn’t have time to protect himself.

She says a detective working this case told her that Miller is still in critical care at the hospital.

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We spoke with our law and safety expert, Dale Carson, about what happens next when the  prime suspect in a case is hospitalized withcritical injuries.

“The state attorney’s office and everyone connected with this case will be preparing a case against him moving forward if he survives.

"He’s not simply getting a walk because he is in critical condition in the hospital,” says Carson.

As the investigation continues, Hare’s mother and the rest of his family have set a time and place for his memorial service.

Visitation will be this Friday at Hardage Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, in Orange Park, from 6-8 p.m.

Hare’s funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m.

Nettleton tells us that she has reached out to UNF to see if there is any way they can give Nic an honorary degree, since he was so close to completing his before he was killed.

Nettleton says her son was a great student who always made the Dean’s List, and he was looking forward to finishing school to start working.

WJAX