ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A man was shot in the leg early Sunday morning near the intersection of Flagler Boulevard and Gerado Street, the St. Augustine Police Department said.
At 2:19 a.m., police received a call about shots fired and found that both the shooter and the victim had left the scene.
Witnesses told police that the victim was shot in the leg. St. Augustine police then asked the St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies to be on the lookout for the man at Flagler Hospital. Shortly after, deputies located the man and detained him.
Officers said witnesses initially had conflicting stories, but the officers eventually learned that the shooter is a black man driving a maroon SUV.
One neighbor told News4Jax that he couldn’t believe it was a shooting that he heard.
"At about 2 a.m., it sounded like two loud bangs, jumped out of bed, checked the house and no one was there,” the neighbor said. “I didn’t know what it was. I thought it could have been someone banging on the door really loud.”
Police said that the public is not in danger, but the shooting still has neighbors like Cullen Rose shook up.
“I was so surprised when this first happened,” Rose said. “This is such a peaceful neighborhood. I like taking my dog on walks here, you know? The birds are always chirping, it’s really nice, always people walking their dogs here. Everyone is really friendly. I’m surprised there was a shooting here. I’m dumbfounded, you know?”
Police said they are questioning the victim and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).