JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An argument over the price of an item at a liquor store ended in two separate shooting incidents that sent two people to the hospital Tuesday night on Jacksonville’s Southside, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
JSO Lieutenant Katsacos said it all started around 11 p.m. at the MBC liquor store on Atlantic Boulevard, near South Arlington Road, when a 23-year-old customer was purchasing an item and an argument ensued between him and the store clerk.
JSO said the argument first turned into a physical fight inside the store between the owner, the store clerk and the customer. Police said early investigation indicates the argument was over the price of an item.
The fight eventually ended with the customer going outside, along with the store owner. But at some point, the customer reentered the store, pulled out a gun and began shooting at the store clerk.
According to police, the store owner then fired his own firearm at the suspect, striking him multiple times.
The suspect eventually drove himself back to his home on Rigel Road, which is where the second incident happened.
Police said a JSO auxiliary officer who lives nearby heard the commotion outside, noticed the suspect had been shot, and went back in his house to get some gloves so he could help the suspect.
When the off-duty auxiliary officer went back outside, a family member of the suspect was also there, and both the officer and the family member began rendering aid to the suspect.
At this point, a man came out of the home and fired one round toward the direction of the auxiliary officer and the family member. Neither of them was hit.
JSO officers then responded to the home and detained the man who fired his gun.
However, no official arrests have been made, according to JSO.
The store clerk and suspect involved in the shooting were transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition, JSO said.
Watch JSO’s full incident recap in the video below:
According to JSO, “auxiliary officers are citizens, who, while maintaining a separate life and career outside of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, volunteer their time as sworn police officers. These unpaid members of the agency supplement the men and women who put their life on the line for this community every day. Auxiliary officers can be seen working in both the patrol and investigative divisions in a myriad of capacities, performing the same duties as is typical for full-time officers.”
Police said they believe they have identified everyone who was involved in the incident, all of whom were in the process of being questioned by detectives.
If you have any information about this incident, we do ask that you call us at 630-0500, or call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. You can also leave the information at our crime tips email, JSOcrimetips@jaxsheriff.org