Brooks Found Guilty of Attempted Murder in 2018 Shooting

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Robert Brooks, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of three counts of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Shooting or Throwing Deadly Missiles, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Brooks now faces up to life in Florida State Prison, with a minimum sentence of 30 years if found as a Prison Releasee Reoffender. The Honorable Meredith Charbula will sentence Brooks during a hearing the week of June 6, 2021.

On July 31, 2018, a car containing three female and one male victims drove their vehicle away from a convenience store on Monaco Drive when a silver car driven by Brooks immediately followed them. Shortly after, Brooks — the lone occupant of the silver car — fired several shots at the victims’ car. Multiple shots hit the car, including one that struck one of the female victims in the neck. An investigation revealed the three female victims — one of which had an infrequent relationship with Brooks — had gone to the convenience store to pick up a male acquaintance. Brooks and this acquaintance had a past encounter and Brooks fired the shots into the car as retaliation for that encounter. Surveillance footage showed the shooting and two of the three female victims were able to identify Brooks’ vehicle.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Will Grauel and Brooke Gasson.