Police Identify Suspect and Victim in Fatal East University Avenue Shooting
GAINESVILLE, Fla. Gainesville Police Department Chief Nelson Moya has identified the suspect accused of fatally shooting a lumber store employee and wounding two police officers during a confrontation Wednesday morning.
During a Gainesville City Commission meeting on Thursday, Chief Moya confirmed the shooter as Justin Dewayne Long, 31, who lived in the 300 block of County Road 234.
Police said the incident began shortly before 8:00 a.m. at Imeca Lumber and Hardware, located at 1201 East University Avenue. Investigators reported that Long parked his vehicle at a nearby KFC before entering the business, where he allegedly opened fire.
Eduardo Pardo Rodriguez, 23, an employee at the store, was struck during the shooting and later pronounced dead. Chief Moya told city commissioners that investigators have found no apparent connection between Long and either the business or the victim.
Moya said preliminary findings suggest the shooting may have been linked to a mental health crisis and that the victim appeared to have been chosen at random. He described the loss as tragic and emphasized the lack of any known prior relationship between the suspect and those involved.
Responding officers located Long as he attempted to flee the area in a vehicle. Police said that when officers tried to stop him, Long exited the car and began firing at law enforcement.
Two additional officers arrived to assist, and an exchange of gunfire followed. Long was struck during the confrontation and transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Two Gainesville police officers were also injured in the shooting and were taken to UF Health Shands Hospital for treatment and evaluation. Both officers were released later Wednesday afternoon.
Chief Moya said the investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to determine the full sequence of events leading up to the shooting, including Long’s actions prior to arriving at the business.
He added that the department’s thoughts remain with the victim’s family, affected employees, and the officers who responded to the incident.
