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JSO charges 18-year-old Andre Thomas with murder for the shooting death of Donte Swan, following a car break-in on Jacksonville’s Westside.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An 18-year-old has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a man on Jacksonville’s Westside earlier this year, according to JSO.
Police say the incident happened on May 15, 2025, when District 4 patrol officers responded to Wheat Road near Ricker Road. Officers found 39-year-old Donte Swan suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, but later died.
JSO homicide detectives learned a group of men had been breaking into cars on the property when Swan confronted them, according to a release. JSO says Andre Thomas, who was 17 at the time, pulled out a gun and shot Swan before fleeing with others.
According to investigators, Thomas was part of a larger group that had stolen a car, driven to the area, and broken into multiple vehicles before the shooting. JSO says its Crime Analysis Unit, Crime Scene Unit, and Real Time Crime Center helped link Thomas to the killing.
Thomas was already in custody on an unrelated charge when detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest in Swan’s death. Although he was a juvenile at the time of the shooting, the State Attorney’s Office has decided to charge him as an adult, JSO said.
Police said the investigation remains active as they work to identify and charge others involved.