A routine drive on St. Johns Bluff Road South last Tuesday night ended violently for a 20-year-old Jacksonville man, who says he was shot after attempting to follow a hit-and-run driver. The man, identified only as Connor for safety reasons, told reporters he ended up with a bullet lodged in his abdomen and four bullet holes in his gold Toyota Highlander after trailing a driver who allegedly fled the scene of a crash. What began as a fender-bender escalated into gunfire, rattling neighbors and commuters along the busy corridor.
According to News4JAX, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office investigators responded to the 1700 block of St. Johns Bluff Road South around 9 p.m. last Tuesday. They found Connor suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen after he had followed the other driver, reportedly trying to get insurance information after the initial collision.
Connor told News4JAX, "It was the most gruesome, excruciating pain I’ve ever felt," and allowed the station to view X-rays that show a bullet still lodged in his abdomen. He described pulling his SUV alongside the fleeing vehicle at a red light, seeing the other driver make a motion, then hearing shots ring out. The ordeal has left him not only in physical pain but also emotionally drained, as friends and family cycle through visits while he starts the long recovery process.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact the agency at (904) 630-0500 or email [email protected], according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. For those who prefer to stay anonymous, tips can be submitted to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
Why following a fleeing driver can be dangerous
Law enforcement and safety experts regularly warn against chasing another driver after a crash, no matter how tempting it may feel in the moment. Pursuits like this can escalate into confrontations or violence and can also complicate the scene for investigators who later have to sort out what happened and where.
Florida law requires drivers involved in crashes that cause injury or at least $500 in damage to immediately report the incident to local law enforcement instead of trying to track down the other motorist themselves. That requirement is laid out in Florida Statutes section 316.065. If officers later identify the fleeing driver, prosecutors can pursue hit-and-run and related charges.
What investigators are looking for
Detectives are asking anyone who was driving along St. Johns Bluff Road South around 9 p.m. last Tuesday to check their dashcams. They are also hoping that nearby homes and businesses will review doorbell or surveillance footage from that evening.
Even partial license plate numbers, noticeable damage to a vehicle, or details about the direction a car was heading could help investigators build a timeline and zero in on the shooter. Authorities say the case remains very much active and that public tips could be the key to an arrest.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office tip line or reach out anonymously to First Coast Crime Stoppers. Police say community cooperation will be crucial in getting answers and bringing the gunman off the road.
