FLAGLER COUNTY, FL – Sheriff Rick Staly of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced today the arrest of CJ Nelson Sr. in connection with the shooting death of 18-month-old Ja’liyah Allen on September 3, 2023. This arrest follows the previous indictment of CJ Nelson Jr., the child’s older brother, on manslaughter charges.
CJ Nelson Sr. is accused of orchestrating the staging of the crime scene and instructing witnesses to provide false alibis. According to investigators, he arrived at the scene immediately after the shooting, took the firearm from CJ Nelson Jr., and concealed it in a bedroom, using a t-shirt to avoid leaving fingerprints. He also directed witnesses to claim that both he and his son were outside during the incident.
On January 5, 2024, Nelson Sr. was arrested at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on charges of tampering with evidence and providing false information to law enforcement. He was released after posting a $15,000 bond.
Nelson Sr.’s criminal history includes a total of 18 prior arrests, involving various charges ranging from traffic violations to possession and sale of narcotics, as well as battery and child neglect.
Sheriff Staly commended the efforts of Detective Gordon and the Major Case Unit, emphasizing their persistence in uncovering the tampering and deception involved in the case. “The apple did not fall far from the tree,” Staly remarked, referencing the father-son involvement in the case.