The community of Okaloosa County is mourning the loss of 20-year-old Jamarion Pride of Mary Esther, who was fatally shot early Wednesday morning. Pride, widely known in the local music scene as “Goodfella Jthree,” was found dead on Taylor Road, north of Crestview, following a violent altercation that prompted a swift law enforcement response.
Authorities with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said a motorist called 9-1-1 shortly before 6:00 a.m. after spotting a man lying in the roadway on Taylor Road, off Lake Silver Road. Deputies arrived quickly and discovered Pride deceased. Investigators recovered shell casings near his body and processed the area for evidence while the roadway was temporarily closed to ensure public safety.
Within less than 12 hours, authorities identified and arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting. Kavari McQueen of Crestview was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Leon County Jail on an open count of murder. Investigators said McQueen and Pride had been inside a vehicle together when an argument escalated into gunfire.
The altercation reportedly continued outside the vehicle, with both individuals entering the roadway. Shortly afterward, a passing motorist discovered Pride’s body. McQueen fled the scene in the vehicle but was later tracked down by law enforcement. He was apprehended Wednesday evening around 5:30 p.m. in Tallahassee.
As part of the ongoing investigation, deputies executed a search warrant at a home in the Crestview area. Authorities acknowledged the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in locating and apprehending the suspect.
Officials are urging anyone with information related to the case to contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office at 850-651-7400 or submit anonymous tips through Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers via the P3 Tips mobile app or by calling 850-863-TIPS. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue gathering evidence and working to ensure justice for Jamarion Pride.
