JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said three teenagers are each facing a felony charge after being accused of stealing a car and crashing it into a mattress store on Dunn Avenue on Sunday.
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Police said the ages of the teens involved are 18, 14, and 12.
"We’ve shared this before, but we’ll say it again. Parents and family members, please get involved in your children’s lives. This group made a choice, and that choice led to the destruction of a family’s business. Now, this trio will face the consequences of their actions," JSO said.
The agency said on Sunday morning, officers responded to Furniture Mattress Store on Dunn Avenue after a car crashed through the storefront and caught fire.
Investigative efforts revealed that the car that crashed into the store had been stolen, JSO said, and footage captured by the surveillance camera showed three people running from the car after the crash.
The next day, police said they saw three young men running away from a house after hearing apparent gunshots. After an interview, police said they were able to identify them as the three involved in Sunday’s crash.
News4JAX spoke with the business owner, Fawzy Khalil, who said the store has been operating for 15 years. He arrived at the store around 2 a.m. and said he was facing huge repair costs to replace the glass front, damaged furniture, and store fixtures — all while losing income as the business remains closed during repairs.
The community has also started a GoFundMe to help Khalil rebuild his family business.