JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two men were shot in the early morning hours Sunday when gunfire erupted after a fight spilled into the street in Downtown Jacksonville, according to police.
The incident on East Bay Street near Market Street left one man in critical condition, and the shooter remains unidentified, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
JSO says officers responded to 300 East Bay Street at approximately 3:21 a.m. because of reports of a person shot. Investigators say a fight broke out between several groups of women on Bay Street — and at some point during the altercation, an unknown suspect or suspects opened fire.
A man in his early 20s was struck once in the head. He was transported by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue to a local hospital, where his injuries are listed as life-threatening.
A second man in his mid-20s was shot once in the right thigh. Officers on scene provided medical attention before he was transported to a local hospital, where his injuries are listed as non-life-threatening. Neither victim has been identified.
More than three dozen evidence markers were placed along Market Street near the Hyatt, less than a block from JSO headquarters.
Investigators were seen photographing a gold Lexus on Market Street between East Bay and Forsyth streets. The vehicle had significant front-end damage and deployed airbags.
Police also swept two nearby parking lots with what appeared to be a metal detector as part of the evidence collection process. JSO described the crime scene as spanning multiple city blocks.
East Bay Street was closed between Liberty Street and Newnan Street for several hours while crime scene detectives processed the area.
Neighbors who live near the scene told News4JAX they heard the gunshots in the early morning hours, with some initially mistaking the sounds for fireworks.
“But last night it just sounded like a lot of fireworks,” said Shane Mahoney, who lives nearby. “Part of me was like — I feel like that could be gunfire too.”
Another neighbor, who asked not to be identified, described hearing the chaos unfold.
“I heard a loud bang and a crash and people screaming,” the neighbor said. “And then all I heard was cop cars coming flying down here.”
JSO says there is no description of the suspect or suspects at this time. Investigators are actively canvassing for surveillance video, interviewing witnesses, and following up on investigative leads. JSO says it believes the incident was isolated and that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
If you have information, contact:
- Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office: 904-630-0500
- JSO Crime Tips email: JSOCRIMETIPS@JAXSHERIFF.ORG
- First Coast Crime Stoppers: 1-866-845-TIPS