JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A father was shot and killed Wednesday night behind the Blind Rabbit restaurant in the Riverside area while taking the trash out.
Officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded just after 10 p.m. to the reported shooting. JSO said the victim, who has been identified as Daniel Rowe, was shot in the head twice.
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Rowe worked at the restaurant and was a cook, according to his family.
Rowe was taken to UF Health Jacksonville for treatment of life-threatening injuries. His mother, Raelyn Rowe, told Action News he later died.
"I was sitting there when his heart stopped," said Daniel's father Steven Rowe. "I had to make a decision to let my son go because two cowards took him away from us."
Raelyn said he was going to turn 21 in a couple of weeks.
“We do believe there were two suspects involved,” said JSO Sgt. Craig Waldrup. “We don’t have any specific descriptions of them.”
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A friend and former co-worker told Action News he had a young daughter, a son and a baby on the way.
"My husband was actually working across the street at Kickbacks at the time and the executive chef for Blind Rabbit ran over and got him. So we knew almost immediately," said Raelyn.
The manager of Kickback said he is making sure employees walk home in pairs after the shooting.
https://twitter.com/RussellANjax/status/624149056621817856
Anyone who has any information in regards to this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. You can remain anonymous and receive a possible reward of up to $3,000.
"All he wanted to do was work and support his family," Raelyn said. "He was such an amazing man, and he will be sadly missed."
https://twitter.com/RussellANjax/status/624182547417853952
"JSO needs to make sure they do everything they can, and not let this fall through the cracks because it's happening too much in this city," Steven said.
The Blind Rabbit closed Thursday due to his death. The bar and restaurant will open at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
Click here or scroll down to see the story unfolded as on social media as information became available.
My most amazing son and father taken to soon. I love you forever in our hearts.
Posted by Raelyn Rowe on Thursday, July 23, 2015