A routine attempt to make a gun safe inside a North Jacksonville home turned into a life-or-death emergency Monday, when the firearm went off and struck a man in the torso, leaving him in critical condition, authorities said.
The shooting happened inside a residence near the 300 block of Shamrock Avenue South. A witness drove the wounded man to a nearby hospital, and he was rushed into surgery with a single gunshot wound to the torso, according to investigators. Family members at the home are cooperating with law enforcement, while Crime Scene Detectives and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Robbery and Violent Crime Unit comb the house for evidence and canvass the neighborhood for surveillance video.
What investigators say
Early findings indicate the victim and his cousin were trying to make a firearm safe inside the home when it discharged and hit the man in the torso, according to News4JAX. The outlet reports the victim is an adult in his late 20s and that officers were first called to a local hospital around 9:45 a.m.
The victim’s brother and a witness were detained at the scene and are cooperating with detectives, News4JAX adds.
Investigation underway
Crime Scene detectives are processing the home, while robbery and violent crime detectives interview witnesses and chase down leads, according to News4JAX. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office told reporters that, “Investigators believe the incident is isolated and there is no ongoing threat to the community,” the outlet reports.
Officials have not released the victim’s name or the name of the hospital where he was taken.
Northside trend and context
The shooting comes amid a string of violent incidents on Jacksonville’s Northside. On July 17, a man was killed in a shooting at the Breakwater Studio Apartments near I-95 and Broward Road, according to Action News Jax.
The station also reported a July 1 triple shooting on Traci Lynn Drive that left a 4-year-old girl dead and other family members critically injured, with the children’s father arrested in connection with the case, according to Action News Jax.
How to help investigators
Detectives are asking anyone who might have seen or heard anything Monday, or who has relevant camera footage, to come forward. That includes neighbors with surveillance or doorbell video that might show activity around the time of the shooting.
Tips can be submitted by calling the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500, emailing [email protected], or contacting First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
