Teen killed in New Town shooting identified

Residents fed up after 2nd shooting in 2 days in neighborhood

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man shot and killed Wednesday on Line Street in the New Town area has been identified, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.

The victim was 19-year-old Deonte Rashad Allen.

A neighbor said he heard what sounded like firecrackers just after 2 p.m. while he was sitting on his steps.

“I saw somebody running and trying to get on the truck, like knocking on it. Then I saw him fall down, so I went down there. Nobody had a phone, so I called 911,” Mervin Rhodes said. “I didn't know who he was at the time, because his face was swollen. His head was swollen, but it happened to be one of my neighbors.”

Police said Allen was found shot next to a bicycle and was taken to UF Health, where he died.

Police said they did not find a gun at the scene and were still looking for witnesses. Several cars were seen leaving the area at the time, but none have been identified as a suspect vehicle.

One person told News4Jax that Allen might have been in a confrontation before the shooting.

People in the area said they've become all too familiar with such scenes, and many have had enough of crime in their neighborhood.

Wednesday's shooting was the third in the past three months within a half-mile of the crime scene. Two of the shootings were homicides. There were four other violent assault cases in the same time period, according to JSO's neighborhood crime-mapping tool.

Some older homeowners in the area, like a 71-year-old neighbor who asked to be identified only as Mr. Nelson, said they're tired of senseless killings and no one coming forward with information.

“I am sick and tired of people, young people, getting shot and people in the area, they see something going on, almost anything, that's a problem,” Nelson said. “Somebody's got to do something. Somebody's got to stop this.”

Other homeowners said they're so fed up they're ready to move.

Phyllis Parker said she is ready to leave the neighborhood, because her car was shot at Tuesday, while she was with her young niece.

“I didn't stay home last night. I stayed at a hotel, because I have my young niece living with me and we were just too afraid to stay in our own home that we own,” Parker said. “With me, standing on the corner right now is jeopardizing my life, but I'm not afraid, and I'm tired now.”

Tired and angry is how many people who live on Line Street described their frustration with the shootings in the area.

Parker, 56, said she rushed home Wednesday and found the body of the man right in front of her doorstep.

She said she was shaken, thinking it was her son. It wasn't, but she's still concerned.

“I also got bullet holes in my home right now where it was shot up,” Parker said. “I have a bullet hole in my living room that was shot at. My house has been shot up three times, and I live right down here. I don't bother anybody. Everybody knows me.”

Police ask anyone with information about the deadly shooting to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.