A man from Jacksonville, Florida, has been sentenced to jail time and community service after pleading guilty to vandalizing the graves of two boys who died from gun violence. The man, identified as Gainer, was initially charged with two felony counts of injuring or removing a tomb or monument. He initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea.
Gainer’s actions were captured on video, where he was seen damaging the tombstones and making disrespectful gestures. He was also heard admitting to the act in a livestream, stating that he did it to provoke a reaction to his statements. The mothers of the deceased boys were able to identify Gainer from the videos in a photo lineup in September.
The graves belonged to two boys who died three years apart due to gun violence. The first boy, Flanigan, passed away in 2019, while the second, Lundy, died in 2022. Their graves were located next to each other. Despite the passage of time, the cases surrounding their deaths remain unsolved.
The day after the identification, the mother of the second boy was informed that her son’s grave had also been vandalized on the same night. The news of the desecration of the graves caused a stir in the local community, leading to an outpouring of support for the grieving families.
Local news outlet WJXT reported that both graves have since been restored. The community rallied together to repair the damage caused by Gainer’s actions, showing their solidarity and support for the families of the deceased boys.
Gainer was sentenced on December 19. His punishment includes nine months in jail, 42 months of probation, and 300 hours of community service, which will involve cleaning graveyards. The sentence is seen as a measure to ensure that Gainer understands the gravity of his actions and the pain he caused to the families of the deceased boys.