Veteran killed in his driveway in Jacksonville's Oceanway neighborhood 'traumatic' for neighbors

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said 50-year-old Kyle Simpson, a veteran, was shot and killed when he came home and opened his garage door on Monday, catching 2 men burglarizing his home.

Home surveillance video recorded a dark-colored SUV in the Saddlewood neighborhood. Many people tell Action News Jax they saw the SUV Monday afternoon, right after their neighbor was shot and killed in his driveway.

Maleek Williams, 19, has admitted to shooting and killing Simpson, police said.

Williams is facing murder and armed burglary charges in the death of Simpson.

Several neighbors confirmed a picture of Simpson, their friendly neighbor who had moved in not long ago.

“Very scary. From what I've gathered, they must've busted a window in the back reached in and unlocked the door in the back,” the neighbor said. “He walked in on them and I don't know what, they didn't have any reason to shoot him, but they did.

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This neighbor, who wants to keep his identity private, said he has lived in Saddlewood for the last decade and what happened just a few doors away has shaken neighbors to their core.

“It was like a traumatic experience for everybody in here because it's always so peaceful in here,” the neighbor said.

He also said that his mailman was dropping off the mail at that exact moment the shooting happened.

“He was our regular mailman and he was parked right here. He had already been talked to by police and he was waiting we went out and took him some water he was very upset,” he said. “They knew that he saw them and he was afraid they were going to shoot him too.”

To learn more about how you can help Simpson's family, click here.

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