Jacksonville, FL – The 83-year-old Florida man, J. Crager, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, and was sentenced to life in prison. The elderly defendant, who is homeless, reportedly walked into a store and challenged the owner to a fight, which the victim refused. The defendant then pulled out his gun and shot the victim, 68-year-old G. Oste, multiple times, killing him.
The fatal incident occurred in July this year. The fatal shooting occurred while the victim’s son and an employee were in the store. Both witnesses were not injured in the shooting while the defendant fired shots at the victim’s son as well. During an interview with investigators, the victim’s son reportedly said that he heard the 68-year-old parent yelling to the defendant to leave his store. Moments later, the victim’s son, who was in the back of the store, grabbed his gun and went to the front desk. He then heard gunshots and realized that his parent had been shot.
The witness also told investigators that he realized that the shooter was still in the store holding his gun. The son then fired multiple shots at the defendant, striking him in the legs. The defendant then fired back, but didn’t injure the unidentified man. Another witness, who was an employee at the store, reportedly told investigators that the defendant was angry about a recent transaction between him and the store owner.
The witness reportedly told investigators that the defendant walked into the store and told the store owner to meet him outside, challenging him in a physical confrontation. The victim then told the defendant that he refuses and ordered him to leave. Moments later, the defendant pulled out a gun and shot the victim multiple times. First responders rushed the victim and the defendant to the hospital for treatment. The victim was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The defendant was treated for his injuries and later charged.