A 23-year-old man faces murder charges after police say he fatally shot his uncle inside a local laundromat earlier this week.
Officers with the District 6 Patrol responded Monday, Feb. 23, to reports of gunfire at a laundromat off Soutel Drive. Upon arrival, police found 61-year-old Roderick Crawford suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Crawford died at the scene before medical personnel could administer treatment.
According to investigators with the Homicide Unit, surveillance video from the business captured the shooting. The footage showed Crawford loading clothes into a dryer when a masked gunman approached him from behind and shot him in the back of the head.
Detectives reviewed the security footage, interviewed witnesses, and identified the suspect as Crawford’s nephew, La’Darius Purdy.
On Wednesday, authorities took Purdy into custody on an unrelated active warrant for domestic battery connected to a January incident.
Homicide detectives questioned Purdy at the Duval County jail regarding the fatal shooting. Following the interview, police officially charged him with murder and tampering with evidence.
Purdy remains held at the Duval County jail awaiting an initial court appearance.
“Our hearts are with Crawford’s family at this time, and we will continue to seek justice for him,” the agency said in a statement.
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