JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Days after an 18-year-old Riverside High School senior was gunned down while working at a Westside Burger King, his family and friends are still grappling with the sudden violence that took his life.
In a post on a GoFundMe page made to support Matthew Jackson’s family, his mother said he “had big dreams and a bright future ahead of him.”
She said he was set to join the U.S. Marines after graduation. His mother called his decision to enlist “a reflection of his courage, discipline, and his natural instinct to protect others.”
That instinct kicked in Saturday night when two men got into a fight inside the Burger King on Blanding Boulevard near Collins Road, where Jackson was working, according to information in a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office report.
Jackson was fatally shot around 8:30 p.m. when he tried to break up the fight between 28-year-old Dawud Burritt and 33-year-old Ray Cummings Jr., Burritt’s arrest report says.
Cummings was wounded in the shooting but is expected to recover, police said.
Burritt is charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and armed burglary.
Jackson’s mother told News4JAX her son was scheduled to be sworn into the military next week, as he planned to join the Marines after graduating this coming May.
“Matthew was not just my child, he was a light, a protector, and a soul who brought warmth into every room he entered,” his mother, Natasha Jackson, wrote on GoFundMe. “He cared deeply for the people around him, always showing up in the biggest and smallest ways. If you met him once, you remembered him forever. He was truly loved by everyone who crossed his path.”
Even students at Riverside High who only had brief interactions with Jackson said those moments were memorable.
“He was pretty sweet. He was a good kid. I mean, he did his job well,” said a sophomore who had seen Jackson working at the Burger King.
A junior told News4JAX that the deadly violence has students on edge at the school.
“It’s been very worrying. People have been worried about what happened because this just happened out of nowhere, and it’s not a normal thing that occurs,” they said.
Natasha said Matthew loved to cook, and the love he put into his food was clear to anyone who tasted it.
“As we navigate this unimaginable loss, we are asking for support to help rest with the dignity and honor he deserves,” Natasha wrote. “Any donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward his family through this devastating time.”
The page has so far raised over $8,000 of the listed $9,000 goal.
Natasha thanked the community for the compassion, prayers and support her family has received and asked that everyone continue to keep Matthew and his family in their thoughts.
A woman who identified herself as the mother of Matthew’s best friend said in a social media post that her daughter “is so hurt and lost for words” as she grieves the loss of a young man she loved like a sibling.
A spokesperson for Burger King released the following statement:
We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and our hearts go out to the family, friends, and Team Members impacted.
The Franchisee is cooperating with local authorities and offering counseling support to Team Members. The safety and well-being of everyone in Burger King restaurants is our top priority, and the restaurant will continue to follow security protocols while reviewing any additional measures with law enforcement.
According to JSO’s database, 11 teenagers have been murdered in Jacksonville so far this year. Five of them were 18-year-olds — including Jackson.
If you have any information that will help with the case, call 904-630-0500 or remain anonymous by calling CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.