Jacksonville authorities report two deaths and 11 injuries in weekend Halloween shootings
Two separate incidents at parties in the Regency and West 5th Street areas resulted in one fatality each and left ten others hospitalized.
By Elena Vargas ·
Jacksonville law enforcement agencies confirmed on Sunday that two people died and 11 others were shot in two unrelated incidents that occurred during Halloween parties early that morning. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office held a press conference to detail the timelines of the two events, which investigators say were triggered by fights at separate gatherings.
Commander Jacob Vorpahl stated that the first shooting took place around 1:45 a.m. in the 6200 block of Arlington Expressway in the Regency area. Officers arrived to find a 17-year-old girl with a gunshot wound, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other individuals were treated for gunshot wounds. Vorpahl noted that a crowd was waiting outside to enter a party when the altercation began, resulting in gunfire that struck three bystanders who were not part of the fight.
Investigators believe at least two young Black men wearing dark clothing were responsible for the first incident. Both surviving victims from that scene are expected to recover. Police have not yet released specific suspect information for the second shooting, which occurred approximately two hours later.
At 3:50 a.m., officers responded to a shooting at a house on West 5th Street. They found a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound, and he later died at a nearby hospital. Authorities subsequently learned that nine additional victims had transported themselves to area hospitals. This brought the total number of people shot in the second incident to 10. The surviving victims from this group range in age from 15 to 25, with one suffering life-threatening injuries.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters issued a statement on Sunday condemning the violence. He described the acts as heinous and senseless, stating that his heart went out to the victims and those impacted. Waters pledged to work tirelessly to bring the criminals to justice, adding that violence has no place in Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is asking the public for information on both incidents. Residents can call (904) 630-0500 or submit an anonymous tip to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1 (866) 845-TIPS. Vorpahl said that information leading to an arrest through Crime Stoppers may qualify for a reward of up to $5,000.
Source: Patch Doylestown
