A late-night pop-up party in Jacksonville’s Sherwood Forest neighborhood ended in gunfire Saturday, sending four people to local hospitals and turning a crowded street gathering into a crime scene.
Police said the victims are a 24-year-old woman, a 25-year-old woman, a 41-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy. All were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to the 9000 block of Norfolk Boulevard late Saturday, where officers found one victim at the scene and learned that three others had already driven themselves to nearby hospitals, according to News4JAX. Detectives with the RVCU unit said they are working to pin down a suspect description and a possible motive. Investigators are also looking into whether the shooting was gang-related, though the sheriff’s office said it currently believes the incident was isolated.
Street Party Violence Not A One-Off
Jacksonville has seen this script before. In February, four people were injured during an overnight street party on the Eastside, according to Action News Jax. Pop-up events promoted on social media have stirred up trouble across Florida in recent years, including a large and unruly gathering in Lake Butler that left at least one person shot and led to arrests, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Detectives Lean On Neighborhood For Leads
The sheriff’s office is urging anyone who saw what happened on Norfolk Boulevard to come forward. Tipsters can call 904-630-0500, email [email protected], or submit an anonymous tip to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office crime tips page. Investigators said any video or photos from the scene could be crucial as they work to identify who pulled the trigger.
Detectives said no arrests had been announced as of Sunday morning, and they continue to canvass the neighborhood and review surveillance footage, per News4JAX. The sheriff’s office reiterated that tips from neighbors and bystanders are key as investigators try to piece together how a weekend party turned into a shooting.
