Police: Pete's Bar shooter might be from Jacksonville

Police reviewing surveillance from surrounding businesses; 911 calls released

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – A man who opened fire outside a popular Neptune Beach bar may be from the Jacksonville area, the Neptune Beach assistant police chief told News4Jax Tuesday.

Witnesses said a gunman fired several shots outside Pete's Bar Sunday night, and detectives are reviewing surveillance video from local businesses around the time of the shooting and from a camera positioned inside Pete's Bar.

Police also said they recovered a gun shortly after the shooting just north in Atlantic Beach, but it's unclear if that was the gun used Sunday night. The federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was going to help trace the weapon.

LISTEN: 911 calls from shooting outside Pete's Bar

Three people were hit by concrete fragments after the gunman started shooting into the sidewalk. Witnesses said it started because the bouncer wouldn't allow the man in the bar after he was kicked out for acting inappropriately. 
 
"A person who even fires one shot is dangerous and multiple shots were being fired, so we need to find him as soon as possible," Neptune Beach Assistant Police Chief Tony Carillo said.
 
Carillo said the eyewitnesses to the shooting don't want their personal information released to the media because they are afraid of retaliation. Two men chased the gunman, after witnesses said he fired four shots, but they quickly backed off when the suspect took aim at them and fired another four times, police said.
 
"If a person is shooting, don't follow the person shooting at you," Carillo said. "Get the best tag number you can, vehicle description, don't follow them again."

Investigators said no surveillance video of the incident was available.
 
Police said the suspect may be from the Jacksonville area. Bar patrons were calling him the "preppy shooter," because he was wearing a plaid shirt and drove a white Mercedes Benz.
 
"Obviously he's a loose cannon to unload a whole clip on First Street," Shawn Murray said. "I hope they find him soon."

 
Neptune Beach police said they are going to increase their patrols in the area during the weekends. They also said they are receiving good tips on the shooter's identity. 


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Tarik anchors the 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and reports with the I-TEAM.