Four masked gunmen opened fire on a man standing outside a Southside apartment complex early Saturday, hitting the victim, a man in his late 40s, in the arm and leg. The ambush unfolded on Barnes Road South at about 3:30 a.m. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue rushed the man to a nearby hospital, where his injuries are being treated as not life-threatening. All four suspects took off on foot while detectives began canvassing the area.
JSO Responds To Predawn Apartment-Side Attack
Officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrived after reports of gunfire on Barnes Road South around 3:30 a.m. and found the wounded man outside his apartment building, according to News4JAX. The outlet reports that Jacksonville Fire and Rescue transported the victim to a local hospital and that his wounds to the arm and leg are not considered life-threatening. Detectives remained on scene in the early morning hours, following leads and checking the area for evidence.
Mask-Clad Attackers, Mixed Weapons, No Motive
Police described the shooters as four males dressed in dark clothing and ski masks who carried a mix of rifles and handguns and opened fire without warning. Investigators have not released any possible motive, News4JAX noted, as detectives continued to track down witnesses and potential surveillance video. No arrests had been announced.
How Residents Can Help Investigators
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or email [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office lists non-emergency and tip-line details on its website for people who want to share video, photos, or witness accounts.
Barnes Road Shooting Adds To Troubling Pattern
The Barnes Road corridor has already seen multiple shooting investigations this year, including a January incident in which a teenager was wounded while walking with friends, according to local coverage by Action News Jax. That pattern has heightened public concern on the Southside and prompted renewed appeals from police for anyone with footage or eyewitness information to come forward.
Robbery And Violent-Crimes Detectives Lead Probe
Detectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office robbery and violent-crimes unit are leading the investigation and have asked nearby residents to review doorbell and cell phone video for anything that might help identify the suspects. Officials said they will update the public as new information becomes available and again pointed residents to the listed tip lines for passing along evidence or leads.
