Community remembers victims, supports survivors at Kings Road Memorial Park
Family members, faith leaders and Jacksonville officials gathered Wednesday evening at Kings Road Memorial Park to mark the third anniversary of the racially motivated shooting outside a nearby Dollar General that killed three people and wounded nine others on Aug. 26, 2023.
The candlelight vigil, held steps from the reopened store, followed the organizers' theme: "We Remember. We Honor. We Unite." Attendees came forward one by one to light candles for each of the victims — Angela Carr, Jerrald Gallion and Anolt Joseph "AJ" Laguerre Jr. A final candle was lit for the nine survivors, several of whom continue to cope with trauma and were unable to attend.
"No one should lose their lives because of racism, gun violence," said Councilwoman Ju'Coby Pittman, who represents the district.
Councilwoman Ju'Coby Pittman said some survivors had planned to attend but could not bring themselves back to the site on the anniversary. "And I got three calls to say, 'Ms. Pittman, I really want to come, but I can't, I've been locked up in my house since it happened,'" she said at the ceremony.
For many family members, the annual observance is an effort to keep the victims' names and lives at the center of the community's memory, rather than the violence of that day. Michelle Norris, a cousin of Jerrald Gallion, emphasized the importance of remembering who he was: his humor, sense of style and his love for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Three people were killed in the 2023 shooting: Angela Carr, Jerrald Gallion and Anolt Joseph "AJ" Laguerre Jr.
- Nine people survived the attack; organizers say some survivors continue to struggle with trauma and did not attend the anniversary vigil.
- The Dollar General store reopened months after the shooting and a ground memorial has been established outside the store.
Site of the shooting now a place of remembrance
The Dollar General has reopened, and a ground memorial outside the store provides a place for visitors to stop, reflect and leave remembrances. Organizers said they plan to return to Kings Road Memorial Park each year around the anniversary to honor the three victims and support survivors and their families.
Those in attendance described the vigil as both a tribute and a communal act of resistance against forgetting. Norris told the crowd that the gathering confirms the community has not let the victims' names fade. "Never forget. Never let their name go silent," she said.
| Victim | Status |
|---|---|
| Angela Carr | Killed, honored at vigil |
| Jerrald Gallion | Killed, family represented at vigil |
| Anolt Joseph "AJ" Laguerre Jr. | Killed, honored at vigil |
City leaders, clergy and local residents spoke at the memorial. Pittman framed the remembrance within the broader issues of racial violence and public safety, reiterating that ordinary activities should not place residents at risk because of their race. The vigil served as a public moment to remember the lives lost and to acknowledge ongoing pain among survivors and relatives.
While the city and community organizations have offered support since the shooting, the attendees' testimony at the vigil underscored the long-term emotional and psychological toll such incidents leave on families and neighborhoods. Survivors' reluctance to return to the scene reflects that lingering trauma, organizers said.
Organizers and family members asked Jacksonville residents to continue speaking the victims' names and participating in remembrance activities. The annual observance is intended to be a steady reminder of the individuals behind the headlines and a communal pledge to confront the underlying causes of such violence.
The ceremony concluded with prayers and the lingering glow of candles at the park steps — a quiet, determined act of remembrance in the neighborhood three years after the shooting shook this part of Jacksonville.
