JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Three people were fatally shot in northwest Jacksonville within six hours on Thursday night, but police said the homicides appear unrelated.
"There's nothing that points to any common denominater here," Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Assistant Chief Rick Graham said.
Just before 7 p.m. Thursday, police said an argument at a Brentwood car wash ended with a shooting. Officers found 34-year-old Stevon Mitchell dead in the street in front of the World Wash Car Wash at the intersection of Golfair Boulevard and Birch Street.
According to police reports, Deounce Harden, 27, called 911 to say he'd just shot someone. An off-duty officer arrived to find Harden standing beside Mitchell with a gun in his right front pocket.
Police said Harden and Mitchell, who owned the car wash, had an ongoing dispute. Harden was arrested and charged with murder.
Two hours later and less than two miles away, police found a man shot, lying unconscious on his back on West 44th Street at the intersection of Spring Grove Avenue. The victim, whose identity has not been released, died at Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center.
Police said they have no suspects in that case, but the shooting may be drug related. Investigators said the victim had marijuana in his possession.
Gunfire reported at 12:40 a.m. brought police to the Madison Woods Apartments on Lem Turner Road. Officers found 29-year-old Marcus Hall lying next to a car in the parking lot. He was taken to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center, where Hall was reported to have died after surgery.
Police said Hall was not a resident of the complex, but there visiting friends. They said they have no suspect information in the case.
Graham said there have been eight homicides in the first 13 days of 2006. Police have only made arrests in three of those cases.
"Eight is too many. This agency is committed to soving these homicides and all of these crimes," Graham said. "We need the public's help to do this."
Police ask anyone with information to call Jacksonville police at (904) 630-0500 or Crimestoppers at (866) 845-8477
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