A man in his mid-30s was shot in the leg early Wednesday at a Northwest Jacksonville motel and rushed to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. The gunfire erupted at the Sunshine Inn on New Kings Road in the Magnolia Gardens area, and by the time officers pulled into the parking lot, the shooter was already gone.
According to News4JAX, officers responded around 6:39 a.m. after callers reported shots fired. Investigators told the outlet that an unknown suspect knocked on the victim’s door, then walked back into the parking lot and fired several shots toward the room. One round hit the man in the leg while his girlfriend was inside at the time. Detectives are now combing through surveillance video from the motel and talking with witnesses as they search for a white sedan that sped away from the scene.
JSO Says Probe Is Just Beginning
Sgt. Johnson of the JSO Robbery and Violent Crime Unit told News4JAX, “currently we are very early in the investigation and believe this to be an isolated incident.” No arrests have been made, and detectives are still canvassing the surrounding blocks for additional leads.
How To Help
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office on its non-emergency line or to send an anonymous tip to First Coast Crime Stoppers. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the non-emergency number is 904-630-0500. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-866-845-8477 or by email at [email protected]. Detectives are asking anyone who was in the area around dawn to check their security cameras and call in any potential leads.
A Pattern On The Westside
While investigators say this appears to be an isolated case, Northwest Jacksonville has seen a string of shootings in recent months, rattling residents and keeping law enforcement busy. Local outlets have reported similar incidents, including a fatal shooting at a laundromat in February and other attacks along the New Kings Road corridor. WOKV and Action News Jax have covered several of those cases, highlighting how the violence is affecting the broader community.
JSO says this latest investigation is ongoing and that more information will be released as it becomes available. In the meantime, patrols in the Magnolia Gardens area have been stepped up, and residents are encouraged to call police if they see anything suspicious.
