Pender Found Guilty of Attempted Murder, Discharging Firearm

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Quanavis Pender was found guilty by a jury of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle, and Tampering with Evidence. Pender now faces up to life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable AC Sound will sentence Pender during a Jan. 20, 2022, hearing.

On March 20, 2020, patrol officers responded to calls of a person being shot at a Northwest Jacksonville address. By the time officers arrived, the victim was already at the hospital after being taken there by a witness. Officers spoke with another witness who was present at the time of the shooting. That witness said a white SUV drove to the business and the driver — Pender — asked to see the victim, who went to the vehicle and was shot by Pender shortly thereafter. Surveillance footage captured this encounter as well as one 20 minutes earlier where Pender exits the vehicle and talks with the driver of another car. The victim was shot in the jaw but was able to identify Pender as the shooter. Additional investigation led to a series of threatening texts and video messages from Pender to the victim a month prior. A warrant was issued and Pender was arrested March 27, 2020.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted Assistant State Attorneys Joel Cooper and Rich Giglio.