In the early hours of Thursday morning, tragedy struck an apartment complex on Firestone Road, across from Westside High School in Jacksonville, as reported by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Patrol officers responded to the scene around 7:45 a.m. to find a man in his 30s who had been fatally shot multiple times. As the investigation unfolded, Westside High School was placed on a lockout as a precautionary measure, authorities stated that the incident was not related to the school, as per News4Jax.
According to a statement obtained by News4Jax, a spokesperson for Duval County Public Schools affirmed the safety of all students and staff at Westside High, while the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office continued their investigation into the shooting, witnesses in the complex reportedly heard the shots; then saw multiple men fleeing the area. These individuals, whose age range is believed to be from teenagers to those in their 20s, have not been confirmed as students by the authorities.
Focusing on the events concerning the victim, Sgt. Steve Rudlaff of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office stated in a News4Jax interview, "The victim was staying inside one of the apartments, and this is where he was shot, actually inside one of the apartments." The apartment complex, predominantly vacant, became a crime scene shrouded in the early morning light.
While details are still emerging, several individuals have been detained by police as part of the ongoing investigation, as Jacksonville Sheriff's Office works in coordination with the Duval County Public School Police. The authorities have not provided a timeline for when the lockdown at Westside High will be lifted, the school remained on lockdown until before 11 a.m., Action News Jax reported. Duval schools officials told Action News Jax, "The school remains on a lockout out of an abundance of caution due to police activity in the neighborhood of the school. This activity is not related to the school. All students and staff are safe," reinforcing the message of safety amidst the nearby violence. The investigation remains active, and further details are expected as the police proceed with their enquiries.
