A teenager in his mid-teens was shot in the abdomen while walking with friends in Jacksonville. Officers found him wounded Wednesday evening, and the two men who opened fire on him had not been caught.
According to News4JAX, officers responded and found the teen with a gunshot wound. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department crews took him to a local hospital, and his injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Teen Says He Ran East While Gunmen Fled West
The teen told investigators that two unknown men shot in his direction as he walked with friends, per the station's report. He ran east, while the suspects ran west, and he reported no argument or altercation beforehand — telling detectives he did not know why the men shot at him.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office investigators believe the shooting was isolated and that there is no ongoing threat to the community, the outlet noted. Even so, detectives had not determined whether the victim knew the suspects or whether the shooting was domestic- or gang-related, and they were also checking whether nearby homes or businesses had been struck by gunfire.
Suspect Descriptions and Evidence Collected
One suspect was described as a man wearing all-black clothing, while the other was described as a man wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue pants, according to the same account.
A String of Recent Teen Shootings in Jacksonville
This is not the only juvenile shooting Jacksonville has seen in recent weeks. On October 18, a boy was shot in the chest after an argument involving two groups continued from Regency Mall to a business on Mill Creek Road, as News4JAX reported.
Days earlier, on October 14, a teenage boy was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot on West 30th Street near Moncrief Road, with the suspect still unidentified at the time, per the station's coverage. Action News Jax reported that investigators had not been able to speak with that victim because he was undergoing surgery.
JSO investigators believe Wednesday's shooting was isolated.
Anyone with information is asked to contact JSO at 904-630-0500 or email [email protected], or to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
