Security guard sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter of accused thief after attack at illegal gambling spot

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville security guard was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the killing of a man who attacked the manager of an illegal gambling facility in Brentwood and tried to grab cash in late December.

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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Martiaz McGruder, 23, attacked the manager of the gambling operation inside an address on North Main Street on Dec. 23 and during the fight, both men fell on a gambling table. McGruder then grabbed a roll of $5,000 in cash and started to walk toward the door, JSO said. In fear for his life, JSO said the manager called for Earl Coleman, 61, an armed security guard at the illegal business, who approached McGruder.

What happened next is redacted in the report, but Coleman and McGruder soon came face-to-face at the front of the business.

Witnesses told JSO McGruder briefly put his hands in the air before he ran off and Coleman followed.

McGruder then jumped in a car and Coleman fired three times. McGruder was hit by gunfire and was later dropped off at UF Health where he died.

JSO interviewed several witnesses, who said at no time did McGruder make an aggressive move toward Coleman and McGruder did not have a weapon.

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Coleman was identified as the suspect and arrested with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Task Force. He was initially charged with second-degree murder charges, along with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On Thursday, Coleman pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.