JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Police are searching for a teenage gunman after a 16-year-old was shot in the leg Sunday evening in Jacksonville Beach.
Jacksonville Beach police said the teenager was shot on the boardwalk near Latham Plaza, just south of the Seawalk Pavilion. They said they don't plan to release the identity of the victim.
Police said they identified the suspected shooter as Malik Abdul Khalid Robinson, 18, and an arrest warrant for attempted second-degree murder has been issued for Robinson (pictured below). He is considered armed and dangerous.
Police said officers on patrol heard the gunshots and immediately responded. The victim, who police said was shot in the leg following an argument, was hospitalized. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Officers said the shooter, last seen running from the scene, has been identified, and they hope to make a quick arrest. Police said they believe the gunman was at the beach while on spring break.
Gordon Williams said he saw the victim walking on the street, asking for help after the shooting.
"I thought it was a fight, but then I realized the guy was hopping down the street saying, 'Help me, help me. (I've) just been shot.' Then he lifted his leg up, and the shot had gone through this thigh on the right side. He walked down behind the club and a lot of people jumped over to help him and assist him and everything," said Williams.
Williams said many local bar patrons were frightened once they realized that the victim had been shot.
"They started jumping through the bar, running to take cover, and they were like scared, horrified. They were panicking," said Williams. "Police had a bunch of people get down, face down in the corner. People started lying down, because the police were doing their job."
Local business owner Bill Stevens said he's concerned that the threat of violence could end up hurting his business. He said spring break is typically a big money maker for local merchants who rely on tourism dollars.
"I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh, what a black eye for Jacksonville Beach,'" Stevens said. "(Spring break) is a great time for business. We've got beautiful weather and the kids are out of school, and I'm not sure that's who was involved, but I do know it was a couple of kids, and I think they need to come here and just have a good time and leave their problems at home."
Another witness, who did not want to give his name, said he heard the gunshots and ran to see what was going on.
"We heard three gunshots ... I immediately ran toward it," he said. "I saw one male, one black male... with a gunshot in his right leg. He also seemed like it was no big deal. Like it was OK."
Baron Gentry said he was concerned about his safety.
"It's sad, I mean we just came out here to have fun and now it's kind of scary ... We're so used to it being so calm here because, I mean, I think it's pretty bad over here when you go down this road. But where I live it's calm," said Gentry.
Williams said the violence is getting to be too much and something needs to be done.
"All the violence (has) to stop. You know, there's just too much chaos around here ... too much shooting nowadays. I just hope it gets better," said Williams.
With good weather on the way, police plan on patrolling the crowds earlier in the day and later into the evening.
"Obviously when we have large crowds, spring break large gatherings, we've got to watch for problems as they start escalating," Jacksonville Beach Police Cmdr. Mark Evans said. "Maybe there are arguments and we need to be there to stop them as we are in our downtown area, and hopefully we can contain it."
Jacksonville Beach police are asking anyone who saw the shooting or who has information about the suspect to call the Jacksonville Beach Police Department at 904-270-1665.