Man, woman shot at Mandarin apartment parking lot, police say

Business partner says 19-year-old singer's manager was injured by gunfire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., – A 28-year-old man was shot multiple times early Wednesday morning on the Southside as he sat in a car talking with a 19-year-old woman, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. 

Police said the man and woman were at the Reserve at Mandarin Apartments on Sunbeam Road, just east of San Jose Boulevard, when a white SUV drove up just after midnight and someone inside fired several shots at the car.

The man was hit multiple times and tried to drive away, but the car stalled. Police said the man and woman jumped out and ran in opposite directions.

The man was taken to Orange Park Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Aleksandra Chhem, who was not injured, told police that the man fired back about four times trying to defend himself.

The man and Chhem were unable to give a suspect description. Police are searching for surveillance video to narrow down a better description of the shooter.

A man who identified himself as a business partner of the shooting victim told News4Jax that Chhem is a singer whose stage name is Aleksa Safiya. He said she is known in the community, having a meet and greet at Orange Park Mall on Tuesday, and that the man is her manager.

Anyone with information is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.

In the last month, within a 1-mile radius of the shooting, JSO’s crime-mapping tool shows there have been:

  • 9 reported cases of assault
  • 1 burglary
  • 1 robbery
  • 1 case of vandalism
  • 2 car break-ins
  • 1 arson

About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.