JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department firefighters have been reassigned to administrative duties following their arrest on misdemeanor charges after paintballs struck a police patrol car, traffic signs, and a civilian vehicle near a downtown fire station late last month.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened on Dec. 29 near Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Station 4, located at 639 W. Duval St. at West Jefferson Street in the LaVilla area.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 4 JFRD employees arrested, accused of shooting paintballs at JSO cruiser, car, I-95 sign during ongoing ‘prank war’
JSO charged each firefighter with criminal mischief, saying the paintball damage occurred during what investigators described as a firefighter “prank war.”
Police say an officer driving a marked patrol vehicle near North Jefferson and West Duval streets noticed multiple impacts on the car. When the officer stopped to check the damage, several green paint splatters were found on the vehicle.
Around the same time, a civilian driver reported his car had also been struck by paintballs in the same area, according to JSO.
Investigators later determined that paintballs also hit an abandoned building, the roadway and a dumpster
As previously reported by News4JAX, all four firefighters initially denied responsibility for the incident, even after witnesses told police they saw someone run back into the fire station following the paintball gunfire.
Because of the denials, patrol officers transferred the case to the Jacksonville Integrity Unit for an internal investigation. Noncustodial interviews with city employees were conducted on Jan. 22, ultimately leading to misdemeanor charges against all four firefighters.
In a statement posted to Facebook on Jan. 23, JFRD said all four firefighters have been reassigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
The department described the incident as “personnel misconduct while on duty.”
JFRD emphasized that the arrests will not interfere with emergency services
One of the victims whose vehicle was struck told News4JAX he supports the arrests, calling the behavior irresponsible and potentially dangerous.
He noted that while the damage was limited, the situation could have escalated.
News4JAX submitted a public records request about the incident on Jan. 3, 2026, to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, but at the time was told no information existed regarding a paintball incident. WJXT’s public records request was not fulfilled until Jan. 26th, three days after the arrest.
JSO acknowledged that its lack of a response was due to a clerical error in its public records department. A spokesperson said the agency is meeting internally to ensure information is properly shared with news organizations when it becomes available as required by Florida law.