What started as a fare dispute at a busy Southbank bus hub turned into a gunfire scare Monday morning, when police say a 26-year-old Jacksonville man fired several shots near a Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus and damaged a nearby “Buses Only” sign. The bus driver had refused to let him board without paying, according to the arrest report. No passengers were hit, and officers say they tracked the man down using descriptions from the driver and several riders before taking him into custody in the area.
What police say happened
According to News4JAX, the driver told investigators the man knocked on the bus door at the Kings Avenue terminal and tried to board without paying, which set off an argument with passengers. She reported that she pulled out of the Kings Avenue terminal onto Prudential Drive and, as she passed the man on Kings Avenue, heard three gunshots. Investigators said the bus did not appear to have been hit, and officers did not find any shell casings at the scene.
Where it happened
The incident unfolded at the Kings Avenue Transit Station on Riverplace Boulevard near Prudential Drive, a Southbank stop on JTA’s network. JTA route materials list Kings Avenue Station as a regular stop on Route 27 and several other downtown lines, according to JTA. Its role as a transfer point helps explain why multiple riders and the driver were nearby when the fare dispute escalated into a shooting scare.
Charges and the arrest report
As reported by News4JAX, police charged the man with two third-degree felony counts: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and tampering with evidence. Officers said they found and detained him after getting detailed descriptions from the driver and passengers, and confirmed that no one aboard the bus was injured.
Legal note
The charges listed in the arrest report are allegations, and the man is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Prosecutors are expected to review the report and evidence before deciding whether to file formal charges or pursue any additional counts.
Transit safety and fare rules
JTA’s customer code of conduct instructs riders to have the correct fare or mobile ticket ready when boarding and clearly bans weapons, vandalism and threatening behavior, highlighting the agency’s emphasis on operator and passenger safety, according to JTA. The authority also encourages riders to report suspicious activity through its See & Say tools as part of its broader rider-safety program.
Police say the investigation remains active. Officials have not released additional information about motive or whether any surveillance footage has been recovered.
