2 men shot in Westside parking lot

Victims transported to hospital; police release no suspect information

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two men were transported to the hospital after they were shot in the parking lot of a Westside apartment complex early Monday morning, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Officers responded about 5:45 a.m. to a shooting at the Huron-Sophia Apartment complex on Sophia Street near Huron Street in the Paxon neighborhood.

"There was between eight and nine shots fired, and that's what brought us out of bed," said a neighbor who didn't want to be identified. "It wasn't a rapid fire. It was boom, boom, boom, boom."

JSO Lt. Ashish Sircar said both victims were men, one in his 20s, the other in his 30s. Police said one was shot in the abdomen and the other was shot in the leg and both were were transported to UF Health. Officers at the scene are unsure of their conditions.

Police were unsure at this time if the victims lived at the apartment complex.

"We currently don't have a description of the shooters at this time. Our Violent Crimes Task Force is canvassing the area for information," said Sircar.

Witnesses told police there were several individuals standing and talking in the parking lot when the shooting ensued.

Bobbie Hall, who lives across the street, says he talks to people in the neighborhood to prevent situations like this.

"There's some that will hear, they will heed what's being said, and some will not," said Hall. "That does not stop me from doing my duty my part."