Local musician Joe Starkey died Dec. 10, 2025, in a road rage incident. | Family photo
Published on December 18, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F. Sign up for the Jacksonville Today newsletter.
An attorney for the family of a man killed in a road rage incident last week in Jacksonville is asking why an arrest hasn’t been made in the case.
Surrounded by the wife and son of 62-year-old Joe Starkey, attorney John Phillips asked Thursday that the State Attorney’s Office and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office provide answers about the shooting.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
The incident happened just before 9 p.m. Dec. 10 at St. Johns Bluff Road South and Theresa Drive. Starkey, a notable local musician, was found shot in the road and died there, according to the police report.
According to Phillips and the family, Joe Starkey was unarmed, and police found no weapons in his car.
Speaking before a news conference, Phillips said the family doesn’t know the name of the shooter and police said it may take “many months.”
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
Phillips said he specifically wants the State Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office to give him the name of the person involved and arrest the aggresser, who he said was chasing Starkey in his car.
Phillips says the shooter called 911 from the scene and admitted what happened but has not been arrested. Detectives say they are still waiting on forensics and other information, he said.
Phillips objects to detectives investigating it as a “Stand your ground” case, which in Florida allows people to use deadly force in self-defense without retreating.
“My point is very clear for two stark reasons: One, you can’t be the aggressor and have Stand Your Ground. Two, you can’t actively be in the progress of a crime and have Stand Your Ground,” Phillips said. “This shouldn’t be treated as a Stand Your Ground case. It should be treated as a homicide case. Make the arrest. Let prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges figure it out.
Asked for a response to Phillips’ comments, a police spokesperson said it’s still an active investigation by the homicide unit. A state sttorney’s spokesperson also said the office could not comment during an active investigation.
At the news conference, Starkey’s son, Damien Starkey, said the family hopes someone will come forward with information about a dark Jeep with skinny tires driving erratically and following a Silver Kia in the area.
Damien Starkey described his father as a musician who was important not only to his family, but to a lot of people, including those in the music community.
The family will have a memorial for Starkey at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hidden Hills Country Club.
