JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Jacksonville Beach Police Department Chief Gene Paul N. Smith said his agency “stopped something really bad from happening” during two events that brought hundreds to the Beaches.
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On Saturday, police said an “HBCU Beach Day” event was not an issue, but police still recovered four handguns (one was a realistic replica) from two groups of people under the age of 18. One of the recovered handguns was stolen from a vehicle in Jacksonville Beach a month ago, police said.
Smith said the same “event” was held St. Patrick’s Day 2024 by the same “promoter.” Last year, three separate shootings on St. Patrick’s Day left a 21-year-old man dead and three others injured in Jacksonville Beach and police said they were out in full force last weekend to prevent further violence.
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On Friday, during Senior Skip Day, officers said they also recovered two rifles and two handguns from two different vehicles “full” of rival gang members from Jacksonville.
“We will be here ready to enforce any and all laws with surge personnel for the next four weeks, just like we have been for the last four weeks. We have been warning anyone who plans to violate the law not to come here because we’ll be waiting for you,” Smith said.
