MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A Marion County jury found a Jacksonville man guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm in the shooting death of a 17-year-old, according to a news release from the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Henry Jonathan Valencia, 24, was sentenced to life in prison following his conviction, officials said.
On May 30, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Petro Gas Station off Highway 318 after reports of a shooting around 2:24 p.m.. When they arrived, they found Nosiah Santos lying on the ground next to a gas pump. He was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators said a witness at the scene provided video evidence showing Valencia running from the area after the shooting. Santos’ mother also told deputies she was on the phone with her son at the time of the altercation. She said Santos had asked her to pick him up, telling her he was “done with Valencia.” While driving to meet him, the call went silent.
[VIDEO: Surveillance footage shows arrest of murder suspect in Marion County]
According to the release, Valencia and Santos had been in a “dating relationship” for about four months. Earlier that day, Valencia picked up Santos from his mother’s home to travel back to Jacksonville. During the trip, the two argued over another man. Valencia stopped at the gas station, where Santos got out and waited for his mother. Valencia shot him before fleeing the scene.
Santos’ family told investigators they knew Valencia lived in Jacksonville. Deputies with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office later located and interviewed him before making an arrest.