Two juveniles shot in East Jacksonville

One remains in critical condition, JSO says

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two teenagers were shot just after midnight Sunday by someone firing from a moving vehicle in east Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.

Officers working near the Jacksonville Fairgrounds reported hearing multiple gunshots around 12:10 a.m. Five minutes later, officers were called to East Union Street, just east of A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, with reports of one juvenile being shot in the leg and the other shot in his midsection.

Police said two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old were walking when a vehicle drove by and someone inside fired at them. The two teenagers who were hit were taken to UF Health Jacksonville, one with life-threatening injuries.

The ages and names of the victims were not released.

News4Jx spoke with neighbors who live on Union Street said they heard six to seven gunshots and saw the teenagers moving toward safety seconds later. 

One woman who asked to remain anonymous said there have been multiple shootings in the area over the years, but this time was different. This time, the gunfire was closer than ever. 

“I froze after I heard the gunshots. I was scared. I was nervous. I didn’t know what to do,” the neighbor said. “It’s very different when it hits home. When it sounds like somebody shooting right outside your front door and you’re unsure about it.”

The neighbor told News4Jax that she wants to see change on her street, saying other residents are scared for their children’s safety. 

“This is not what we want to show our young kids and this is not what we want to see every day,” the neighbor said. “Police lights and everything flashing in our neighborhood and scared to look out our doors or open our doors.”

Another neighbor who heard shooting said they went outside and found one teenager running down the sidewalk and another crawling, bleeding heavily from their wound. 

A News4Jax crew counted four bullet holes on the front and side of a home on Union Street. 

The gates of the fair had closed and 11 p.m. Last weekend, an 18-year-old was shot about three blocks away, also shortly after the fair closed for the night.

Police said they do not believe the shooting to be gang-related.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).