Police: Teen girl shot, killed in East Arlington

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A high school was student killed in a shooting in East Arlington Friday.

An uncle who did not want to be identified says that his entire family is shocked and distraught over the death of his niece. He says that since they found out about the shooting, it has been very difficult for everybody, especially for her mother.

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"She was a beautiful girl. She was crazy smart. She was a little stubborn and hardheaded at times, but most teenagers are. The whole family loved her. She loved everybody. I have a 2-year-old daughter, she was in love with my daughter. Every time she came over she would want to take care of her and help us out with her," said the uncle.

Investigators were at the home off of Bullfinch Court near Atlantic and Kernan Boulevards for several hours Friday collecting evidence.

Police said that the boyfriend was taken in for questioning, but investigators have not said if he will be charged.

After the shooting, police said calls started coming in from witnesses around noon.

"I can't really believe that this happened in our neighborhood. Where else are you going to be safe other than your home," neighbor Pamela Houska said.

Neighbors that News4Jax spoke with said they're shocked.

"The 20-year-old that did the mass shooting in Oregon that my cousin was a part of, his friends were shot and killed just yesterday, and now this, two blocks from my house," neighbor Renee Abraham said.

Abraham said she has a personal connection to Thursday's mass shooting in Oregon and told News4Jax there's a bigger problem here.

"Gun violence. It seems guns are so easy for people to get a hold of," Abraham said.

Several neighbors told News4Jax the neighborhood is normally quiet, but recently saw more activity than usual, saying someone recently fired shots at a home on this same cul-de-sac. JSO confirms to News4Jax that police were called to the home in May because someone discharged a firearm. A report on the incident was not immediately available.

"Not only do people lose a son or daughter, but it's the other way around you know. Everybody loses in that situation," Houska said.