7 days ago
Family fears block party shooting victim was retaliation for testifying in another case
The 66-year-old woman shot and killed while harmlessly sitting in a chair on the sidewalk during a block party had recently filed a witness tampering and vandalism report and testified in a case that led to a life sentence, court records show.
Cassandra 'Shawty' Elizabeth Brown was shot in the head during the June 13 gathering with over 100 people at Grothe and Eaverson streets, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. No possible motive or description of the shooter have been released.
But family and friends told Action News Jax they believe it's related to her testimony and that she had been receiving threats.
On May 10 Brown called police about vandalism at her home on West Third Street not far from the block party, according to the incident report. She said she had returned home to find chairs thrown all over the lawn, her trash bin emptied and scattered over her porch and her car tires deflated. The report lists the offense as "Tampering with witness, victim or informant in a 1st degree felony proceeding."
It does not specify the case, but on June 16, 2024, Brown was a witness to a shooting in the same 1000 block of Grothe Street that led to the arrest of 58-year-old Carla Temere Hill. Brown and another woman identified Hill as the woman who shot an acquaintance in his early 70s in the ankle and shin area during a brief encounter. Brown told police she'd known Hill for three years and were once incarcerated at the same time, the arrest report said.
The victim said he knew Hill for about six months and was hanging out when he saw her packing up her bicycle, according to the report. He said he engaged in small talk with her asking if she was leaving. She became angry telling him he should stay out of people's business and then fired several shots from 5 to 6 feet away.
Hill told police she fired at the ground during a short verbal altercation and didn't think she hit him.
Jurors found Hill guilty on Dec. 4, 2024, of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon. She was sentenced the next month to life in prison.
Transcripts from the Dec. 3, 2024, trial proceedings provide Brown's testimony. Here are some excerpts obtained by The Florida Times-Union.
She said that after the victim made a comment about Hill's bike, she pulled out a pistol and told him, 'If you say anything else, I'll kill you,' according to the court transcripts. He backed away with his hands up trying to take cover behind a pole and said, 'What you going to do, Carla? You going to shoot me?' And she did.
'I ran up to her and grabbed her arm and I said, 'Carla, you going to kill this man,'' and she kept firing.
She got on the bicycle and stood over him, saying 'I should have killed you' and spit in his face.
The defense countered with questions about Brown could hear the entire conversation from 20 feet away and how her friendship with Hill ended and that they previously lived together.
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While Brown's case is still early in the investigation, First Coast Crime Stoppers is offering a $3,000 reward for anyone with pertinent information that helps lead to an arrest. Call (866) 845-8477 (845-TIPS), text **8477 or email rewards@ to remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards. The Sheriff's Office also can be reached at (904) 630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Block party shooting victim in Jacksonville reported witness tampering
