Police said the gunman fled after the shooting at a Brentwood apartment complex.
JACKSONVILLE, FL — A tow truck driver was shot and killed late Tuesday while trying to repossess a vehicle at a Brentwood apartment complex, and Jacksonville police were still searching for the shooter Wednesday.
The driver was identified by family members as Oliver Lopez, owner of Oliver Towing. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said officers were called about 10 p.m. Tuesday to the Sanctuary Walk apartment complex in the 600 block of East 21st Street, where Lopez had been trying to hook up a vehicle for repossession.
Police said Lopez was working at the apartment complex when the vehicle’s owner became aware of the repossession. Josh Catir of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office homicide unit said “some sort of altercation occurred” between Lopez and the owner. During that dispute, police said another man came to the area with a gun and fired multiple shots. Lopez was hit and taken by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
No arrest had been announced by Wednesday evening. Police said they had not released a suspect description and had not confirmed what relationship, if any, the shooter had to the vehicle’s owner. Investigators also had not released the name of the owner involved in the repossession dispute. The Sheriff’s Office said there was no ongoing threat to the community, but the agency continued to treat the case as an active homicide investigation.
Family members described Lopez as a father, brother and friend who had worked hard to build his towing business. A cousin said Lopez was “a very hard-working guy and a great friend, a great brother and a loving father.” News of the killing spread Wednesday among local towing operators, who said repossession work can place drivers in tense confrontations late at night, often in apartment lots, driveways and other private property areas.
Rico Jones, who owns a local tow truck company and was not involved in the shooting, said the killing raised concern for people who work in the industry. “Why would you shoot a man for doing his job?” Jones said. He said he stopped near the scene Wednesday morning after seeing crime scene tape because his granddaughter has ties to the apartment complex. He said the violence against a worker doing a repossession troubled him.
The shooting also drew attention to Florida rules for recovery agents. State law cited by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says licensed recovery agents and recovery interns are barred from carrying firearms on private property while performing repossession work. Eric Friday, a Second Amendment attorney not connected to the case, said the rule could face legal questions, though no challenge tied to Lopez’s killing had been filed as of Wednesday.
The case remained open Wednesday night. Police said the shooter had fled the apartment complex, and investigators had not announced charges, a court date or the recovery of a firearm. The next step in the case is the identification and arrest of the person who fired the shots.
Author note: Last updated May 28, 2026.