A 2-year-old boy died overnight after he was shot during a domestic dispute late Sunday at an apartment complex in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Jacksonville’s Westside, police said.
Investigators said just before midnight, officers responded to a complex on Labelle Street.
They said they found the 2-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound, and he died at the hospital.
News4JAX has learned the little boy’s name, but we are not sharing it yet out of respect for the family.
A family friend described the little boy to News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hanson as “a happy baby.”
“He was loved by everybody,” Rayniah Wilson said. “(He would) run around playing in his little pull-up. He didn’t like clothes, but he was happy with his little cup. You could see him around here with his sippy cup.”
Wilson said the family is overwhelmed with grief.
“When I got the news at midnight, I broke down crying… for my friend. It’s hard to lose a child. I saw my mom lose her son, and in that moment, I just knew. And when I heard my friend cry, that was a different kind of love — I knew she was hurt," Wilson said. “Now she is alone, and she has to think about planning a funeral. It’s just too much.”
According to police, the incident began as a domestic dispute between adults in the home.
WATCH: Press play below to watch JSO’s update on the incident
After the shooting, one of the adults involved ran from the scene and police are still looking for that person. They would not share a description or say if the person was the shooter.
Police said they are working to confirm the identity of the person they’re looking for. Once they do, they will release a photo and information about the person.
Two other children under the age of 10 were in the home at the time of the shooting but were not injured.
Police said everyone who was still at the apartment when police arrived is cooperating with the investigation.
This happened at the Valencia Way Apartments, formerly Eureka Gardens, a community that has seen prior violence. Just a few weeks ago, a man in his 20s was shot here but was expected to recover. At that time, Councilwoman Tyrona Clark-Murray was asked for an update on efforts to reduce violence in the area.
We have not heard back from her or her office.
Anyone with information about Sunday’s incident is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500.