JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three teenage boys were shot Sunday evening while walking along a sidewalk in a Lakeshore neighborhood, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
Officers were called about 7:30 p.m. about a report of a shooting outside a home on Lexington Avenue near Lake Shore Boulevard.
Investigators said two 15-year-olds and another older teenager were shot. They took themselves to two area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
The father of the older teenager said his 16-year-old son had been walking back from the park when he was shot in the leg. He said the teen plays sports with neighborhood kids at the park, which is about a mile away from his home.
"I know it bothers him," said the father, who did not wish to be named.
According to the incident report, witnesses told police that three vehicles -- a motorcycle, an SUV and a sedan -- all sped away after the shooting. Investigators do not yet know which, if any, of the vehicles were involved.
One man, who also wished to not be named, captured part of the incident on surveillance video.
"You see a single headlight. You don't know if it's a vehicle or a motorcycle but he pulls up and stops. Then he's out of the frame," he said. "I'm sure this would alarm anybody. You see it on the news all the time but when it happens in your neighborhood, it hits close to home. Of course it's reason for concern."
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith shared advice for the teenage victims.
"Hopefully, the parents of these teens are encouraging them to cooperate with police, answer all their questions throughout the investigation because there could be, sometimes between the shooter and the teens. It could be a school dispute or family dispute or anything," Smith said.
The Sheriff's Office continues to search for the shooters.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
Shooting causes concerns for Lakeshore residents
Sunday's shooting has caused concern among people who live and work near the Lakeshore neighborhood.
Sue LeFebvre told News4Jax that she had been was running a karaoke contest nearby when two different sets of gunshots rang out Sunday night.
"We heard the first set of shots and it was probably around a half-dozen shots. I glanced over and I saw what appeared to be two young ladies running across the street. They were young. Like, they weren't involved in it but trying to get away from it," LeFebvre said.
LeFebvre said two men at the contest went outside to help the victims.
"I was more concerned for them because they were going out where it really wasn't safe," LeFebvre said.
A neighbor of one of the teenagers who was shot said she will keep her child even closer now and be even more cautious.
"It's been a long time since I let her walk anywhere, anyway. (It's) the overprotective mom in me," Rose Battin said. "We're in the middle of moving so I'm just, like, 'After we get out of here, the better.'"
Battin said she had not been home when the shooting happened, but she said hearing neighbors talking about the incident is enough to make her worry.
"Around here, it's usually pretty quiet. And the other side of the street you hear gunshots and you're, like, 'Whatever' because it's not here in your neighborhood. But coming home and finding out your neighbor was shot is kind of scary," Battin said. "(There is) a lot of confusion, a lot of worry."
According to the Sheriff's Office, there have been 85 crimes, including 34 assaults, reported within a half-mile of the area since June 1.