On December 17, 2025, Noely Makenda, 21, and Jordyn Forrestier, 20, both U.S. Navy sailors stationed at NAS Jacksonville, were shot and killed outside their shared home in Orange Park, Florida. Their roommate, 22-year-old Taylor Marques Lomax, also a sailor, has been arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder after firing nearly 30 rounds during a violent altercation.
On the night of December 17, 2025, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire in the Savannah Glen neighborhood of Oakleaf Plantation. Deputies arrived at the residence on Hanging Moss Drive around 11:20 p.m. and discovered two women, later identified as Noely Makenda and Jordyn Forrestier, lying in the front yard with multiple gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that the shooting began after a physical altercation inside the home involving Lomax’s wife and the two victims. The confrontation escalated when Lomax retrieved a handgun and fired approximately 30 rounds, striking both women. Lomax, who served alongside Makenda and Forrestier in Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, was arrested shortly after the incident. He is being held without bond and faces two counts of second-degree murder.
Noely Makenda, aged 21, and Jordyn Forrestier, aged 20, were remembered by fellow sailors and community members as dedicated service members with promising futures in naval aviation support. Both had enlisted young and were known for their camaraderie and commitment to duty. Their deaths have deeply shaken the Orange Park community and the broader Navy family at NAS Jacksonville, where they were stationed.
The suspect, Taylor Marques Lomax, 22, is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. He was also an active-duty sailor at NAS Jacksonville and shared the residence with the victims. His wife, who was involved in the initial altercation, told investigators that she felt attacked by the two women, which led Lomax to intervene with deadly force. Authorities are continuing to examine witness statements and ballistic evidence to fully reconstruct the events leading to the shooting.
This tragedy has prompted grief and reflection within the naval community, underscoring the dangers of domestic disputes escalating into violence. Vigils and memorials are being planned to honor Makenda and Forrestier, whose lives and service are being remembered as examples of youthful patriotism and dedication.
