Witnesses have described this year’s Thanksgiving Day in Jacksonville as particularly violent. In the last 24 hours, the city has experienced five shootings, claiming the lives of two individuals.
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One resident from Villa Beauclerc Condominiums shared, “It’s very disheartening. The night before Thanksgiving, you know, families are preparing their meals and then all of a sudden, you know, they’re seeing this happen outside their door.”
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A mother from the Sunbeam neighborhood, where one of the homicides occurred, expressed her fear and disbelief. “No, we have a lot of like break-ins next door just in cars, but nothing like this,” she said.
Related Story: Person shot, group detained after shooting in Sunbeam neighborhood, JSO says
“I heard that a car followed another car and as soon as the car parked, someone came out, shot the person and got back in their car, and left,” the resident recounted.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported that a man was shot and killed around 10 p.m. last night inside the complex and confirmed the suspect fled in a vehicle. After a search, the suspect was arrested along with others inside the vehicle.
Related Story: Car sale gone wrong; One injured in shooting outside motel off Beach Boulevard
Reacting to the situation, the resident stated, “We have a lot of kids, all of our kids play together. These kids are always outside. I mean, it’s very scary.”
These are part of a series of five shootings that took place over the past day, indicating a concerning trend in Jacksonville.
On Wednesday night, a 19-year-old was shot and taken to the hospital after a shooting in Spring Park. They are expected to recover.
Furthermore, another person was shot and killed in the Durkeeville neighborhood. Additionally, a man was shot in downtown Jacksonville on Thursday around noon. The victim is expected to recover.
Related Story: Argument leads to Thanksgiving Day shooting downtown, one man injured
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Given the severity of the situation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking the shooting suspect in four of the incidents.
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