Deadly gun violence up 22% as Jacksonville sets (yet another) homicide record
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Despite the ongoing pandemic keeping the community in lockdown for part of the year, Jacksonville continued an unsettling trend of rising homicide rates connected to gun violence in 2020. According to News4Jax records, 176 men, women, teenagers and children in Jacksonville saw their lives cut short by violence in 2020. Thatโs up from 162 homicides reported in 2019. At least 152 of the cityโs homicides involved a gun, up more than 22% from 2019, when the city saw 124 of its homicides involve a firearm. Altogether, 31 female victims lost their lives in 2020, including 10 in domestic violence incidents.
JSO: Man shot, killed by 2 gunmen on Westside
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A 37-year-old man was shot dead just before midnight Tuesday in the Oak Hill area of Jacksonvilleโs Westside, police said. Officers were called to the shooting on Wilmar Road, off Jammes Road, south of 103rd Street, around 11:30 p.m. Witnesses told police two suspects dressed in black ran up and shot the man, then drove off in a burnt orange or red, small SUV with dark-tinted windows and silver rims. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and looking for video surveillance to track down the gunmen. Anyone with information about the deadly shooting is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
Distressing distinction: Highest murder total of last 2 decades for Jacksonville
Despite efforts from city leaders to shift the culture -- particularly in neighborhoods prone to violence -- Jacksonville recorded the highest murder total the city has seen over the last two decades. Family members said the 15-year-old was walking to a Burger King in Northwest Jacksonville when he was shot to death. Just four homicides were reported in the 32209 ZIP code in the last three months of the year. News4Jax has worked to find pictures of each of the yearโs homicide victims, whenever possible, to put faces with the numbers. If you know the name of a homicide victim who is not named on our map or have a photo of a victim, please email webteam@wjxt.com, and we will update our database.