Jacksonville Beach sees 3 separate shootings, leaving 1 dead, 3 injured in Florida

 

On Sunday night, police responded to an active shooting situation at Jacksonville Beach Florida. A total of 3 unrelated shootings occurred leaving one dead and three others injured.  

Video taken at the scene of one shooting showed teens scattering from the beach as emergency vehicles arrived. According to Fox News, the shooters were able to elude law enforcement. 

A person off camera can be heard saying, "What y'all scared for?" followed by what sounded like 2 gunshots as the man said, "Damn, they shooting 'em." 

Law enforcement shut down the beachfront bar district area and asked residents and tourists to shelter in place. The order was lifted at approximately 10:54 pm local time. 

In a media briefing on Monday morning, Police Chief Gene Pual Smith said, "I cannot emphasize the chaotic nature of the incident last night," Smith said. "We are currently working three separate unrelated shootings." 

The first shooting happened at around 7:50 pm just east of the Best Western hotel in the area. Officers responded to the scene and around 250-400 juveniles had gathered around the pier nearby. The minors ran when the gunfire broke out.  

One witness said there were "about 15 to 20 gunshots" as "everybody started scattering." 

Two suspects in the incident shot each other and a bystander was hit as well.  

A second shooting occurred at around 8:13 pm near the Ritz bar in the downtown area of Jackson Beach. A suspect had a pistol a fired one shot and then avoided police in a foot chase. Nobody in this incident was injured.  

Then the third shooting occurred at approximately 8:31 pm next to the Sneakers bar. A 21-year-old black male was killed in the incident. Three suspects, who are also black males, drew guns and only one fired the shot. All three suspects remain at large at the time of this report.