Just after daybreak Sunday, the quiet near Jacksonville’s Downtown Entertainment District snapped into the sound of sharp pops that many half-asleep residents wrote off as leftover weekend fireworks. By mid-morning, a stretch of East Bay Street was wrapped in police tape as officers worked what they confirmed was a shooting scene.
Neighbors Say It Sounded Like Fireworks
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said officers responded early Sunday to reports of gunfire near the entertainment district, and some neighbors initially mistook the noise for a late fireworks show. “Like the finales of the fireworks,” is how nearby resident Shane Mahoney described the blasts to Action News Jax. The outlet reported that investigators roped off the area while detectives collected evidence, and officials have not released any information about possible victims or suspects.
Police Scene And Road Closures
Reporters with News4JAX saw a heavy law-enforcement presence on East Bay Street, which was shut down between Liberty and Newnan streets. Evidence markers were placed around a vehicle parked less than a block from the sheriff’s headquarters. As officers worked through the morning, the station noted it was still unclear whether anyone had been hurt or if anyone was in custody.
Sheriff’s Town Halls Start This Week
The gunfire comes just days before the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is set to launch a round of citywide town hall meetings. The agency posted its full district-by-district schedule on LinkedIn, listing gatherings at Trinity Baptist Church’s Hammond Campus on July 13 and Aspire Church in San Marco on July 23, with both meetings scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Sheriff T.K. Waters told Action News Jax, “I’m 100% transparent,” saying the town halls are meant to give residents crime updates and a chance to ask questions directly. He urged attendees to leave their contact information so staff can follow up on any questions that cannot be answered on the spot.
How To Help
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about Sunday’s downtown shooting to reach out to investigators or to First Coast Crime Stoppers, in line with its standard crime-tips guidance. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office crime-tips page, tipsters can call 904-630-0500, email [email protected], or submit anonymous tips to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. Full details are available on JSO's Crime Tips page.
