JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Another shooting along Harts Road on Jacksonville’s Northside is raising new concerns about crime in the area and prompting renewed calls for safety improvements.
Around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, police say a man in his early 20s was shot in the right leg near the front entrance of the Red Roof Inn. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the suspect took off in a white SUV, which was later found abandoned nearby. Officers recovered about eight shell casings at the scene. The victim was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition.
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This marks the latest in a string of shootings along Harts Road in recent months. In June, a man was shot after a fight near the River City Inn, less than 1,000 feet from Saturday’s crime scene. The month before that, a woman was shot inside a room at the Red Roof Inn after an argument with a man. Investigators said both left the scene before officers arrived.
“I’m frustrated. I’m upset. You know, Hart’s road has become a magnet for crime,” said Gaffney. “I’m going to make sure I do everything in my power as a councilman to make sure the residents of Harts Road feel safer.”
District Councilman Reggie Gaffney Jr., who represents the area, said he’s working on legislation to improve safety along Harts Road. He told News4JAX he’s in discussions with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office about adding surveillance cameras and increasing patrols in the area.
JSO told News4JAX that it has reached out to businesses and homeowners in the area to promote the ConnectDuval program that allows cameras to be accessed by public safety officials for rapid response.
JSO also said that it uses its Blight Unit to address locations that have been identified as a public nuisance.
Gaffney said he’s also been in contact with the city about addressing problem properties in the area. The River City Inn, one of the hotels linked to multiple incidents, was recently declared a public nuisance and is under city review.
JSO said the recent shootings appear to be isolated incidents, and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information or surveillance footage is asked to contact JSO or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
Gaffney said he plans to host a community meeting to hear residents’ concerns and discuss potential solutions.