Chief says the suspect fired on officers after killing a worker at a lumber and hardware business on East University Avenue.
GAINESVILLE, FL — A man shot and killed a 23-year-old employee at a Gainesville lumber and hardware store just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, then ambushed responding officers on a busy roadway, wounding two before he was shot by police and later died at a hospital, authorities said.
The attack unfolded near the intersection of East University Avenue and Waldo Road, drawing a large police and fire response and shutting down traffic through the morning commute. Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya said investigators believe the victim was chosen at random and that early information points to a mental health crisis involving the gunman. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing the officer-involved shooting while Gainesville detectives continue the homicide case. City leaders said there was no ongoing threat and noted both injured officers were treated and released the same day.
Police identified the slain employee as Eduardo Pardo Rodriguez, 23, who worked at Imeca Lumber & Hardware on East University Avenue. The chief identified the gunman as Justin Dewayne Long, 31. Moya said officers were dispatched after 911 callers reported shots at the business just before 8 a.m. Wednesday. As two Gainesville officers in marked cars moved in behind a red vehicle believed to be the suspect’s, the driver stopped abruptly, got out and opened fire. “Their heroism and actions resulted not only in neutralizing someone who was out to commit murder but to ensure that the rest of our public was safe,” Moya said. The exchange of gunfire erupted along multiple lanes of morning traffic as additional officers arrived.
Moya said the officers wounded in the street confrontation were Sgt. Rob Kennedy and Officer Jessie Herringshaw. One was struck in the arm and the other in the leg; both were transported to UF Health Shands and released hours later. Long was shot by officers and died at the hospital, according to police. Detectives said preliminary evidence shows Long parked in the 1300 block of East University Avenue, entered the lumber business, “engaged” with Rodriguez and shot him, then returned to his car and encountered police. Investigators have not found a prior connection between Long and the business or the victim. Officials described the motive as unknown while emphasizing indications of a sudden mental health episode. The department did not immediately release the number of shots fired or the exact sequence of rounds.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as cruisers converged and gunfire crackled across the intersection near Waldo Road, one of the city’s busiest corridors. Traffic was sealed off in both directions while officers and fire rescue staged. Store workers and drivers took cover behind vehicles and concrete dividers as the gun battle unfolded. City commissioners opened their meeting Thursday with remarks about the shooting’s impact on East Gainesville. Mayor Harvey Ward said recent years have seen a drop in homicides on the east side but called the killing a setback that rattled employees and neighbors who were starting their workday. Commissioners urged patience with the twin investigations and praised bystanders who quickly called 911.
Gainesville police are leading the homicide investigation into Rodriguez’s death. FDLE is handling the standard review of the officers’ use of force. Detectives were gathering security video from the lumberyard and nearby businesses, processing the suspect’s vehicle and waiting on ballistics and autopsy reports. The department said it would release dispatch logs, body-camera videos and additional records consistent with Florida’s public records law once investigative steps allow. Moya told commissioners investigators are working to map Long’s movements in the hours before the attack and to determine how he obtained the firearm. No charges have been announced in connection with the gun used in the crimes. Officials did not identify the specific weapon recovered at the scene.
Records show the Imeca Lumber & Hardware site sits along a commercial strip that funnels commuters toward downtown and the University of Florida. The intersection of East University Avenue and Waldo Road has seen heavy traffic and prior serious crashes, but gun battles in daylight are rare there, according to longtime residents who spoke after the street reopened. Union representatives and officers’ families visited the hospital Wednesday and said both Kennedy and Herringshaw were in good spirits. “They are recovering well,” Ward said during brief remarks, adding that police and counselors are in contact with workers at the store. Neighbors placed flowers outside the business Thursday to honor Rodriguez, who had recently celebrated a birthday, according to co-workers.
Officials said the next steps include FDLE’s evidence review and interviews with the involved officers, followed by a written report that will be forwarded to prosecutors for independent review. Gainesville police said they expect to release a preliminary timeline and additional audio and video in the coming days after key witness interviews are completed. City staff said road closures around the scene were lifted by late morning Wednesday, but detectives returned Thursday to finish canvassing for surveillance footage. A regular police briefing is expected early next week, with any updates on the autopsy and ballistics testing schedules. Funeral plans for Rodriguez had not been announced as of Thursday evening.
At the store Thursday, employees moved lumber in near-silence while contractors drifted in to pick up small orders. A foreman said staff members were “shaken but determined to be here for Eduardo’s family.” Across the intersection, a bus driver said she heard “three or four bursts” and watched cars jump the median to avoid the crossfire. A mechanic who works nearby called the exchange “the loudest thing I’ve ever heard on this road.” Outside City Hall, residents spoke about the officers’ quick return from the hospital. “It means a lot to see them okay,” said Marcus Allen, who lives a mile from the scene. “But a young man lost his life. We’re thinking about his family.”
As of Thursday night, Gainesville police said the homicide investigation remains active and that FDLE’s separate review of the officer-involved shooting is underway. The next expected public update is scheduled for early next week, pending evidence processing and interviews.
Author note: Last updated January 16, 2026.