JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 12-year-old boy is recovering after investigators said he was shot during an argument between two groups of young people at Clanzel T. Brown Park Sunday night.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the groups argued at the park, some left and then returned, and someone fired a gun. The boy was struck in the leg; police said the shooter, believed to be a young man in his late teens, ran from the scene.
The park was recently renovated to give children a safe place to play, but neighbors and community leaders said Sunday’s violence raises questions about how young people are getting access to guns and what it will take to keep parks safe.
“It was late night. It was a whole bunch of group of kids behind my business,” William Davis said, who owns a business across the street from the park. “They went fighting each other for about 20 minutes. It was like, about 40 kids.”
Davis said he and an associate usually try to intervene, but they held back when someone reached for a gun.
“Then probably about five minutes later, they [started] shooting.”
Davis said he has asked city officials for more nighttime patrols and better security but has seen little change.
“They come in the daytime, but at nighttime it’s nothing,” he said. “So it’s like a recipe for disaster.” He also urged better lighting: “If we can get some lights over there, it’d be better because when I say everybody around here knows each other, but we can’t run into a situation where we can’t see it.”
District Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman said one act of violence should not define the park or the neighborhood.
“I’m glad the young man is going to be alright. But that child who had that gun needs to be punished. You don’t shoot at somebody and think you’re going to get away with it,” she said. “I think we have everything that a park should have and more, and we’re looking forward to the kids still coming to this park and enjoying themselves.”
News4JAX visited the area and spoke with neighbors calling for changes as investigators continue their search for the shooter. Anyone with information is urged to call JSO or Crime Stoppers.