Jacksonville Mother Fights for Justice Following Daughter’s Hit-and-Run Tragedy

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville mother is searching for justice after her 13-year-old daughter died in a hit and run crash.

Shardae Webber tells First Coast News that her daughter, Genesis, was walking home from school on Tuesday, when she was struck in Arlington.

Webber said her daughter was walking home, the same way she does everyday after school, when she was fatally struck.

“Everybody loved her. She lit up a room. She had gray eyes. She was beautiful. She looked like a baby doll.”

Wednesday afternoon, surrounded by friends and family, Webber is heartbroken. 

“I’m just in shock,” Webber said. “Everybody loved her. She lit up a room. She had gray eyes. She was beautiful. She looked like a baby doll.” 

Thirteen-year-old Genesis was killed in a hit and run crash on Arlington road on Tuesday. Her mom said she was walking home after getting off her school’s afterschool activity bus. 

“She was a child and she didn’t do no wrong like she wasn’t doing anything,” she said, “She was just walking home from her bus stop and she does every day.” 

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the teen was struck by a vehicle that jumped the curb, smashed through a fence and kept going, leaving her in a culvert.

Detectives are still reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses, searching for the vehicle involved. So far, JSO has not released any suspect or vehicle information.

The grieving mother has a message for the driver.

“You know what you did, and karma is real,” Webber said. “Karma is real and God doesn’t like ugly.” 

As this family remembers the seventh grader who was deeply rooted in church, baptized just last month and loved cheer, softball and dance, they are asking for anyone who could help in the investigation to come forward.

“If anybody knows anything, like, they need to definitely call the police and come forward and let us know something, because all I want is justice for my baby,” said the teen’s mother, “that’s my first born, and that’s my only girl.” 

“She can’t speak for herself. I can’t just let this go by because I have to get justice for her. I’m not going to be at peace if I don’t.” 

Webber tells First Coast News that her daughter went to Southside Middle School. We reached out to the district to see if they will have grief counselors on hand for students.

If you have any information about this crash that happened between 7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Tuesday night here on Arlington road, call JSO or Crimestoppers at 866-845-TIPS.