Rojas Found Guilty of Attempted First-Degree Murder of JSO Detective

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces today that Kevin Ryan Rojas, 21, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Attempted First-Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, Attempted Manslaughter, two counts of Aggravated Assault, Grand Theft Auto, and Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer. Rojas now faces a mandatory sentence of Life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable James H. Daniel during the week of Nov. 27, 2017.

In the early morning hours of March 9, 2016, Rojas was pulled over by an off-duty undercover Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detective on Collins Road for driving recklessly. The detective was in the process of driving his teenage son to school.
Immediately after being stopped, Rojas exited his vehicle and fired shots at the detective through the vehicle’s windshield, striking him once in the head, twice in abdomen, and once in the hand. The detective’s son was sitting in the passenger seat but was not struck by Rojas’ gunshots. Despite being shot, the detective exited his vehicle and returned fire before Rojas fled. Nearby business workers came to the detective’s assistance shortly after the incident to provide medical attention until help arrived.

After fleeing, Rojas stole a truck. Law enforcement followed him into a nearby neighborhood, where he was apprehended.

“Every day, in countless ways, the men and women of law enforcement face threats like these,” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson. “I commend the brave people who risked their own safety to come to the aid of the injured detective, and I’m proud of our team who delivered justice.”

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Bernie de la Rionda and Tom Mangan.