JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dana Tra Von Smith, age 28, and Elizabeth Anne Bell, age 22, were arrested in connection with a homicide in Riverside on June 18, 2022.
On Saturday morning, the body of 27-year-old Keenan Sparks was found near Willowbranch Park on Sydney Street. He had been shot.
Friends say Sparks relocated to Jacksonville so he could be closer to his folks. He recently started working for DoorDash as a delivery driver.
Late in March, the police acquired warrants to arrest the two suspects.
When investigators got the warrants, they found that both people were already in jail for crimes that had nothing to do with the warrants. They re-arrested them.
Smith was arrested for murder, while Bell was arrested for helping Smith kill someone after the fact.
After sharing a picture of one of Sparks’ tattoos on social media, the JSO had trouble figuring out who Sparks was after he was shot. Several friends and family members said they recognized it was him right away and were able to prove it.
“Oh, my God. Amy Alvarez, a close friend, remarked, “My heart sank.” “I can’t make sense of it.”
Sparks were always eager to go out of his way to help other people. He was called a “gentle giant.”
“He was so cool. Alvarez stated, “He was happy and the kind of person who, even if he was down to his last penny, would give it to you if you needed it.”
Several neighbors told News4JAX that they woke up at 6 a.m. Saturday and noticed police cruisers in the vicinity. They asked to remain anonymous.
So far, nothing has been said about a possible reason.
Alvarez added, “The truth will come out.” “And when that day comes, I’ll be in court,” he said.
Investigators added that they are looking for cameras and video footage in the neighborhood to help them figure out who might have done it.
A representative for DoorDash claimed that the firm is helping the police with the inquiry. No one knows for sure if he was working when he died.
