1 killed, 1 hurt in New Town shooting

Gunfire at Dot, Grunthal streets, near Edward Waters College

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police are investigating a shooting that killed a 37-year-old man and injured another Sunday night as they sat in a car near Edward Waters College.

The shooting happened at Dot Street and Grunthal Street around 11:10 p.m. Patrol officers responded to 911 calls about shots fired. Moments later, Edward Waters College security called the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office after finding a car at 4th and Grunthal streets with a man dead inside.

Tuesday morning, police identified the victim as Anthony Whitley, who lived about 10 miles away in North Jacksonville. 

A second man police said was shot inside the car was hospitalized at UF Health Jacksonville. When the shooting occurred, he called a friend, and was driven to the hospital. Police say he is being treated for at least one gunshot wound and that detectives were to speak with him as soon as he is able.

Police have not released the name of the second victim.

"From what we are seeing, the shooters were probably on foot. We are not getting any reports of any other vehicles in the area besides the victims' vehicle," JSO homicide Sgt. Michael Paul said. "We are canvassing the area, talking to people, trying to determine what occurred and we also have another scene, which is a little bit further away, maybe about two blocks away, where we believe the shooting started."

Edward Waters College responded with several "Tiger Alerts" warnings to its students of the incident. They also posted the alerts on Twitter.

"It will be an active scene for a while; maybe until daylight. We just have to work through it and see what kind of evidence we find. We keep coming across some different things, shell casings, blood trail, some things that daylight will help us," Paul said early Saturday morning.

A woman who lives on the street where the shootings occurred said she heard the gunfire. 

"I assumed once I got up this morning and saw the flashing lights that someone had died. We have no regard for life nowadays," she told News4Jax. "I have prayed for them this morning and for the individual who died in the shooting."

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office crime-mapping tool, there have been three shootings, 34 batteries, 26 burglaries, six robberies and one arson over the past month within a one-mile radius of Sunday night's incident.

Anyone who knows anything about the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000.


About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.