JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man was arrested for fatally striking an 8-month-old on Saturday afternoon with his car after placing the baby in the street, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Justin Golden, 20, was charged with aggravated manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
Officials said that just before 11 a.m., an accident took place along Lenox and McDuff avenues involving one car, Golden, a woman, and an 8-month-old.
The incident began when an argument started between Golden who was the driver, and the passenger.
“The driver stopped the vehicle at the intersection, opened the door, and placed the child on the ground,” JSO said. “The driver then began to leave the area and the vehicle struck the child.”
Jacksonville Fire Rescue took the child to the hospital where medical staff declared the child dead.
Markin Barnes described the morning as chaotic. He said he heard a woman screaming so he ran out of his barbershop across the street and saw her holding the baby.
“The kid was bleeding,” Barnes said. “So we immediately asked did she need help.”
He said as a father of twins, it hurt him to see the woman and the baby.
“It’s going to be prayers and thoughts for the family,” Barnes said. “It’s rough you know, dealing with kids and young, it’s definitely going to be a traumatic situation.”
Barnes said he wants to ensure anyone who witnessed what happened and is traumatized has a safe space to talk. He opened his barbershop for people to come together as a community and heal.
JSO’s Crime Scene Unit and Traffic Homicide Unit are still investigating the incident.
JSO added that they have not confirmed it, but believe that both of the vehicle’s occupants are believed to be the child’s parents.
This article will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
