HomeCrimeNames of victim and shooter in yesterday’s East University Avenue incident released

Names of victim and shooter in yesterday’s East University Avenue incident released

January 15, 2026

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville Police Department Chief Nelson Moya has released the names of the victim in the lumber store in yesterday’s shooting incident, along with the name of the shooter.

According to Moya, the shooter, 31-year-old Justin Dewayne Long, who lives in the 300 block of CR 234, parked at the KFC, entered Imeca Lumber and Hardware (1201 E. University Avenue), and shot 23-year-old Eduardo P. Rodriguez.

Moya told the Gainesville City Commission that he believes there was “the appearance of an onset of a mental health issue here, and the victim was sadly… selected randomly.”

For additional reporting on this incident, see these articles:

  • The fact that the assailant was a cracker doesn’t fit very neatly with the “eastside crime” trope that so many Chronitards were peddling yesterday.

    • The problem isn’t us its people like Ward/Walker who instead of saying this is just an anomaly and nothing bad ever ever ever ever happens at the corner of Waldo Rd/University ave in the 1000’s block, District 1 is completely safe nothing bad ever ever ever happens in this area regardless of what you see on the news all the time you safer in Gaza than at the Wawa at 1007 E. University. So that’s the problem Ward/Walker should’ve just came out and said it’s a white boy and not the normal Black/Black crime you seen 9 times out of 10. so I can’t give you full credit on this because of the dumb stuff Ward/Walker said at the press conference trying to signal to everyone it’s a white boy and not a brother this time. and lets also not forgot when Walker made up some crazy azz shiz about there’s gun violence epidemic like if I don’t get my gun violence vaccination from Shands I might catch a case of the gun violence and have to call out sick and stay home from work WTF! Comrade

      • Speaking of nothing happening, it’s tragic nothing seems to be happening here and nationwide to effectively help people who are mentally ill from falling through the cracks and ruining their lives as well as lives of complete, random strangers.

      • The problem is they blame “gun violence” when their own Party’s friends in Hollyweird have glamorized guns as problem solvers for over 100 years. Look in the mirror, 👹👿🤡💩

  • Are us white people supposed to burn and pillage in protest? After all, the police chief is black.

    • Now now if were going talk race Moya is Hispanic probably identifies as white but either way we know he’s a liberal or Ward would have never hired him and that’s the real problem.

  • Congratulations to Desmon Duncan Walker this time it was a white boy you should just lead with that instead of saying the dumb shiz you said trying to virtue signal “this is a complete anomaly nothing bad ever ever ever ever happens on E. University in the 1000’s near Waldo Rd in District 1. I promise you regardless of what see all the time in the news.

  • I have a question for the AC can someone please tell me where to go in AC to get my gun violence vaccination so I don’t catch a case of the gun violence that’s contagious on 1000 E. University Ave in District 1. Does health insurance pay for the gun violence vaccination? Should I wear an N95 mask where traveling in the 1000’s on E. University Ave in District 1?

  • Well the good news is the Gun Violence interrupters won’t have to make another Play at PK Yonge about this since it was a white boy.

      • I am sure their still going do another play this year about gun Violence it’s going called Tales of a Eastside Kid Life in the 1000 Block of E. University Ave: District 1 presents.

  • Identity politics. Instead of saying someone committed a crime and because of it two people are dead. Here we are guessing and blaming the criminal’s politics instead of the criminal’s behavior. Truly we as a society are lost….

    • I think you’re delusional! Oh, and when you want to speak about Black People, capitalize, “Black”!

  • Until Moya and investigators can positively link a possible mental health motive or any other motive for this animal’s actions they the need to stop with the supposed and rely on facts. This is how liberals work th advance their agenda and let the rumor mill fly.There is no reasonable justified excuse for this idiot’s actions.

  • Disappointed Chief Moya broke rule #1 of mental health training, never make a diagnosis if you’re not a professional. Now, the “crazy” stigma just got pushed a little bit further. Sometimes it’s ok to just say “we’ll never know why this happened.”

    • Fareed, GPD and the City been saying people have mental health issues with no proof for years.
      You know who this is, lol.
      Sue them and be persistent and they will do the same to you.

  • The people who were shot – regardless of race, nationality, sex, age, occupation, whatever – were human beings. I think it’s sad when a human being dies or is injured by violence. It also seems pretty sad when people use the occasion of these deaths/injuries to express their dislike of the other people. Y’all have a right to your opinions, but you would feel better without all the hate in your hearts.

  • It’s the government fault for making guns in the first place the world started out with structure In the Bible they are letting police kill & shoot people but talking about in God we trust not my God because my God commandment says thy shall not kill And I know they don’t repenting because that’s their job and God do not forgive you for the same sins that you keep committing unless you mean it you have to live right or at least try we as people should hale everybody accountable for the actions the police wrong too everybody was wrong !!

    • Indeed to the above. We all thinking and wondering about the meaning of Gods word, we best be praying TO God instead. It isn’t for us humans – whites blacks greens browns – to be making all these decisions. The bible speaks god’s word and ain’t nobody listening seems like, because plain as day, it says don’t kill.

  • There’s a connection somehow.

    I don’t have the knowledge of details.

    A rampage? no.

    Police department did their jobs.

    Thank you for the GPD before worst case happened. Amen

  • I am all about people having rights to own a gun but, I feel that most people cannot control their self when bad stuff happens. I feel them being close to a gun in that time is too easy to throw out bullets I think everyone should have a right to protect themselves at home. Keep the guns at home. You want to hunt go hunting and take the gun home..If no one is carrying a gun then No one will be able to get hurt by someone shooting…Everyone should stop being crazy and love there neighbor and if they have a issue be civil and work things out.

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