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Jacksonville 12-Year-Old Charged With Killing Of Homeless Man

Jacksonville Sheriff's Offce

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says 12-year-old boy shot and killed a 54-year-old homeless man last month in a Westside parking lot.As reported by our news partner News4Jax, Sharron Townsend is charged with murder in the death of Thomas Trent, who was found dead at a vacant business in the 7400 block of 103rd Street about 7:20 a.m. June 28. Police said Townsend shot Trent one time in the head.

Police said surveillance video was obtained from a nearby business that helped them identify two persons of interest after receiving tips from the public. The video shows the two in the area at about 2:25 a.m.

Investigators said one of them, 16-year-old Darrel Royal, was incarcerated in connection with an unrelated robbery, and when interviewed Wednesday night, he implicated Townsend. Police said they then interviewed Townsend, who they said admitted to shooting Trent with a .22-caliber gun.

Investigators said Townsend and Trent did not know each other, and the killing appears to be random.