JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A man was shot in the back before dawn Monday south of the pier on Jacksonville Beach, according to police.
The second shooting in just over a week in Jacksonville Beach comes as the city is working to keep people safe this Fourth of July.
About 3:30 a.m. Monday, people on the beach heard gunfire, and they walked about 20 blocks south and flagged down an officer about 30 minutes later.
The victim was conscious but was not able to tell officers anything about who shot him. He was taken into surgery at Memorial Hospital and is expected to recover. Investigators hope to interview the man at the hospital.
Potential witnesses told police they saw a female and male running from the area after the shooting.
According to the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, officers also responded early Saturday morning to a report of shots fired involving a hit-and-run incident on 2nd Avenue North, but no one was injured.
About 2:30 a.m. June 24, police said, Leon Bennett was shot to death near the intersection of 7th Avenue and 1st Street as the 23-year-old left a bar.
As he prepared for the large July Fourth crowd, Fernando Meza, general manager of the Wreck Tiki Lounge, told News4Jax that violence at the beach is frustrating.
“I don’t want people not coming because they don’t want to deal with the violence or whatever the case may be," Meza said Monday. "But this is two weeks of craziness and it shouldn’t be happening.”
Meza said he's hopeful the July Fourth crowds will be able to enjoy a fun and safe celebration on the beach, not a violent one.
Like any special event, police said, people can expect to see more officers patrolling the beach on Independence Day.
“You’ll see officers in walking beat assignments. You’ll see officers on Segways. You’ll see officers on bicycles. There’s a whole myriad of efforts that we take during special events," said Thomas Crumley, public information officer and services division commander for the Police Department. "Our biggest thing that we're trying to get everyone to do is that if they see something, let us know."
Despite the recent shootings, many beachgoers said they’re not worried.
“I’m quite sure that a lot of visitors are shocked about it, but I don’t think it's going to dampen my plans for the Fourth of July," said Mark Young, who was visiting Jacksonville Beach.
Jacksonville Beach Mayor Charlie Latham also told News4Jax that the city is doing everything it can to make sure the community is safe.
Police said they don’t believe last week's shooting and the one Monday morning are connected. They said they've received several tips about the deadly shooting, but no one has been arrested.
Police are asking anyone who may have observed any disturbances around the pier at that time to contact the Jacksonville Beach Police Department at 904-270-1661.