Franklin Delano Prince Jr. was 28 when he was fatally shot on December 23, 2007, outside his Eureka Gardens apartment in Jacksonville. He was sitting on the complex steps with two friends when three men described as Black approached, forced the group to the ground and opened fire. Franklin and another man, Antonio Creech, died at the scene; a third victim survived but could not identify the attackers.

Prince had been taking a merchant seaman class and was working toward becoming a merchant mariner so he could travel and support his mother, according to his sister Glenda McCollors-McClendon. Investigators have suggested the motive may be linked to a local turf war, but no arrests have been announced and the case remains unsolved. The family continues to seek answers and hopes for closure.

If anyone has information about this shooting, contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.