Youth football practice resumes after drive-by park shooting

Some parents, coaches upset no patrol officers were at Charles Clark Park

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Youth football practice resumed Wednesday night at Charles Clark Park after last week's pair of drive-by shootings at two Northwest Jacksonville parks that left a 12-year-old boy and a woman injured. 

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the boy was shot in the leg at 7:21 p.m. on June 20 as he ran from gunfire at Charles Clark Park on Sibbald Road, and the woman was grazed by a bullet seven minutes later when gunfire erupted at Yancey Park about 2 miles away.

Eight days after the shootings, children returned to Charles Clark Park for football practice. But some coaches and parents were concerned because they were told police officers would be patrolling the park -- but none were seen.

"We were told JSO was going to be up here, and I've been sitting up here for an hour myself and I still haven't seen anybody," parent Brittany Battles said. 

At the beginning of practice, there were no signs of JSO presence in Charles Clark Park. As more parents showed up with their children, it became a topic of discussion that left many upset.

One parent, who was afraid to be identified because the shooters have not been captured, decided to leave.

"I'm not feeling safe at all, and I'm trying to get my mom from out of here and I'm very afraid for my small kids," the parent said.

Football coach Bernard Brown was also surprised when he realized there were no police officers in the park. 

"I know they're working on the situation very hard, but they told us they would be stationed out here," Brown said. "I know what's going on with the city of Jacksonville, but right now at this point, I'm feeling like the city doesn't care about what we got going on for the kids and their safety."

Despite how many people felt about the lack of police presence, News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said there was nothing etched in stone about JSO maintaining a presence during Wednesday night's practice.

Though officers were never seen at the first practice since the shootings, some parents and coaches were also just happy to see the children back at the park and having fun.

"It's beautiful. It's heartwarming. It's touching and I'm just happy for the ones that did come out and they are ready. They're coming in ready to work," Brown said. 

News4Jax was told there were 20 to 30 fewer children at the practice.

"Last week, we had on the roll 70 that were out here on this field," Brown said. "I think some of them are probably just moving a little slow but, eventually, it will get back to where it was at."

Several parents told News4Jax that they were just happy to see their children happy.

"It's a bit of a relief. I was a little iffy after last week, but seeing what my child loves to do, and he's enjoying himself, that's all that matters," Battles said.

Grandparent David Felton, added, "We just need the kids to know everything is going to be fine when they come up here and just try to enjoy the rest of the summer and get ready for football season." 

Another parent, William Johnson, said he was upset when he learned gunmen showed up at Charles Clark Park last week and fired multiple shots at children, but he used the incident as a teaching moment for his son. 

"I just made him aware of what was going on and let him know to make better choices in life and not to fool around with the wrong crowd," Johnson said. 

Youth athletic officials are expected make an announcement Thursday at Yancey Park about security going forward. 

News4Jax has reached out to JSO for comment about patrols but has not yet heard back. 


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