Ryan Nichols, the 20-year-old white man who prosecutors accused of fatally shooting a Black man in Jacksonville near a dumpster in 2023, was sentenced to 40 years in prison last week. Daniel DeGuardia, 19, and Holden Dodson, 22, were charged with accessory after the fact.
The three men managed to avoid hate crime charges in the murder of Gary Jackson, 39. When the men were arrested, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stated there was no evidence that racism played a factor in the killing.
During Nichols’ sentencing, Judge Anthony Salem said the murder showed a lack of respect for human life. “My heart breaks for Mr. Jackson’s family. I hope today, in some small way, brings some sort of closure,” Salem had said.
However, Dodson said that Nichols used a racist slur to describe Jackson after he shot him several times behind the dumpster. “[Nichols] said, ‘I just blew that N-word’s head off,’ was one the things that were said. And, ‘nobody steals from me.’ Almost bragging,” Dodson recalled.
According to detectives, surveillance footage from local businesses showed a man chasing Jackson with what appeared to be a handgun, as a Jeep Grand Cherokee followed them.
The Jeep was later seen driving south, but when the victim was seen running north, Nichols jumped out of the car and chased him on foot, according to his arrest report. Dodson called 911 to report a stolen gun — but not Jackson’s murder, prosecutors said.
Nichols later insisted he acted in self defense and that Jackson was armed. However, the report said Jackson was trying to hide. Nichols pleaded guilty to second-degree murder; Dodson and Deguardia both pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact for their actions.
Dodson and DeGuardia are scheduled to be sentenced on June 28. They face up to 15 years in prison.