JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of Kenneth “Kenny” Mobley Jr. outside a Jacksonville restaurant, bringing a measure of relief to the victim’s grieving family.
Josiah Luis Martinez faces second-degree murder charges in the June 11 shooting that claimed the life of Mobley, 38, in the parking lot near Copeland’s restaurant on Southside Boulevard.
“I feel a whole lot better because I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t rest, I didn’t know what was happening,” said Kenneth Mobley Sr., the victim’s father. “I just want to see the rest of them caught.”
The arrest comes six weeks after the deadly afternoon shooting that shocked diners and nearby shoppers. Mobley Jr. was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and later died at the hospital.
The Mobley family believes the arrest of Martinez is just the beginning. Patricia Mobley, the victim’s cousin, suggests there may be more people involved in the killing.
“There are many that had parts in it,” she said. “We believe that has not been confirmed. There’s a mastermind behind this, and we don’t think the shooter was the mastermind.”
The victim’s father shared the heartbreaking detail of speaking with his son just hours before the shooting.
“Me and him talked on the phone two hours before it happened,” Mobley said. “He was okay. I was supposed to help him move in a couple of days.”
While the family awaits further developments in the case, they’re focusing their energy on keeping Kenny’s memory alive. Their efforts include continuing his lawn service business and launching a clothing line called “MOB” in his honor.
The proceeds from the clothing line will support organizations that assist families of other victims, creating a lasting legacy from their loss.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed whether they are seeking additional suspects in the case. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.