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Family questions lack of arrest in fatal shooting involving deputy's son

Dominic Broadus, Sr. said it's been nearly two months since his 31-year-old son was shot and killed.

Dominic Broadus, Sr. said it's been nearly two months since his 31-year-old son was shot and killed.

Though authorities questioned a man believed to be the shooter, Broadus said he has received few answers on why no arrests have been made.

Dominic "D.J." Broadus II died on February 3 in Macclenny near a home on Southern States Nursery Road.

An offense report released by the Baker County Sheriff's Office lists a 29-year-old man as another person involved but does not list any suspects.

FDLE was contacted within hours after D.J.'s death. The 29-year-old man, according to the Baker County Sheriff's Office, was the son of a retired deputy.

First Coast News is withholding the identity of the man because he has not been arrested or charged in connection with the shooting. The man did not return messages at his listed phone number Wednesday requesting a comment.

The case remains pending with FDLE.

Broadus, Sr. said the silence from investigators has been frustrating for their family.

"I don't even know exactly how my son died, that's a shame," Broadus, Sr. said. "They said they didn't find any weapons on my son, we asked [agents] that question."

Credit: WTLV
Dominic Broadus, Sr. demands answers 45 days after the shooting of his son, DJ. 

The released details surrounding D.J.'s death are scant. The offense report has large sections redacted, including the name of a third person involved, and three supplemental narratives by three separate officers within the 24 hours after the initial report.

A Baker County Sheriff's Office offense report shows several large redactions of supplemental narratives in the case of Dominic D.J. Broadus.

Broadus said he cannot explain why D.J., a Jacksonville resident, would have been 40 miles west in Baker County.

He said his only option now is to wait and continue to call for transparency and accountability in a case still laden with questions.

A Jacksonville social activist group will be holding a meeting Thursday seeking justice for D.J.

Joshua Parks, an organizer for the Jacksonville Community Action Committee, said too often a social movement is required for justice to be served.

"The waiting game is the thing that they usually try to distract us with, eventually people will forget and eventually people won't be angry anymore," Parks said.

FDLE spokesperson Gretl Plessinger said in a statement how important silence is at this stage of the investigation.

"Our case is active. We have not released any...information and it would be inappropriate for us to do so. FDLE does not comment during active investigations because our top priority is to ensure the integrity of the investigation. Providing information during an active case can influence future interviews. Our role is to determine the facts of what happened and we provide that information to prosecutors so they can make charging decisions. Once the investigation is no longer active, all information can be provided to the public."

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee meeting will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at 1601 North Main Street in the Wells Fargo Springfield Learning Center.

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