On Monday, February 23, 2026, District 6 patrol officers responded to a laundromat off Soutel Drive after we received reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found 61-year-old Roderick Crawford with multiple gunshot wounds. He passed away before he could receive medical treatment.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) Homicide Unit immediately began interviewing witnesses and reviewing security camera footage. Using all investigative tools available to them, detectives identified Crawford’s nephew, 23-year-old La’Darius Purdy as the gunman.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Purdy was arrested for an active warrant he had for Domestic Battery, stemming from an incident in January.
On Thursday, August 20th, JSO's Homicide Unit detectives interviewed Purdy about his uncle’s murder. Following that interview, detectives arrested him for Murder and Tampering with Evidence. Purdy continues to be behind bars at the John E. Goode Pretrial Detention Facility (Duval County jail) awaiting a court appearance.
To view the post regarding this arrest on JSO's social media platforms, please click on one of the following links:
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