Florida Marine Shot After Trying to Help Strangers

Military veteran shot in the face when helping others
First Coast News
Michelle Quesada
April 14, 2014

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A local military veteran is recovering from a gunshot wound to the face after he was shot while trying to help others.

Ralph Tackett, 49, spent hours in surgery Monday.

"They got the bullet out, he's got three plates in his jaw, three titanium plates and he's going to need more surgeries," said Sandy Tackett, the victim's wife.

According to a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office police report, Tackett heard a car crash outside his home on Fort Caroline Road Saturday morning. He got in his car to drive out and help when he saw the crashed Silver Pontiac Grand Prix and three men walking towards him, waiving him down.

"They asked him for a tire, he said 'a tire? I think you need more than a tire,'" said Richard Tackett, the victim's son.

The report states that's when one of the suspects shot him in the left lower jaw.

"They didn't ask for the car, didn't ask him to get out or anything they just shot him," said Sandy.
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Another Marine's car was stolen.