JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A young man was found dead just after midnight in the driver's seat of an SUV on Lem Turner Road, about three blocks north of the Ribault River, and Jacksonville police are trying to find out who he is and who shot him.
Police believe he was 18- 25 years old.
"It looks like the shooting occurred on the east side of the roadway on Lem Turner," Jacksonville Sheriff Office Sgt. Chuck Ford said. "We will be working with the state attorney’s office and the medical examiner’s office to assist us throughout the night."
Evidence technicians were processing the vehicle and the area where detectives believe the shots were fired. Lem Turner was closed in the area while the investigation continued. The road reopened about 6:30 a.m.
Two bullet holes were seen in the SUV’s back window as it was being towed away.
In addition to the SUV, the windshield of a black car in the area was damaged by gunfire with shards of glass on its hood and a JSO victim-witness pamphlet tucked under the windshield wiper. Police have not confirmed if the damage was specifically from a bullet.
A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous told News4Jax that, “It’s a decent neighborhood if you don’t have problems with people.”
Edward Ross, who goes to a church down the street, is taking the shooting as an opportunity to do more community outreach.
“Well, I feel like if we try to get more young people out in the church, we won’t have so much shooting and violence going on at night,” Ross said.
Police said they were interviewing a couple of witnesses, but had no leads into who fired at the driver.
"If anybody in the community in this area or anybody knows what may have happened, certainly call us," Ford said. "Call Crime Stoppers and help us with this senseless homicide."
Crime Stoppers' number is 866-845-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.