Current:Home > reviews3 separate shootings mar St. Patrick's Day festivities in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. -Secure Growth Solutions
3 separate shootings mar St. Patrick's Day festivities in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
View
Date:2025-04-18 13:20:26
Police are searching for multiple suspects in three different shootings that left one person dead and at least three injured as thousands crowded in downtown Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Sunday night for St. Patrick's Day festivities.
The shootings occurred near the city's beachfront after police broke up a group of up to 400 people in their late teens who gathered under the pier Sunday afternoon.
"This group engaged in boxing matches, fights and other incidents. The Jacksonville Beach Police Department had to take action," Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said at a new conference on Monday morning. "When the crowd dispersed, that's when the shooting happened."
Police responded to the first shooting at a Best Western hotel at around 7:50 p.m., Smith said. The shooting left three people injured – two were transported to the hospital afterwards, and another self-reported an injury. Authorities believe two of the victims fired at each other, while the third was an innocent bystander, Smith said.
Less than half an hour later, reports came in of a second shooting in a parking lot outside the Ritz, a cocktail bar. No one was injured or killed, and the shooter fled the scene in a black ski mask, Smith said. Officers found one firearm.
Police responded to the third shooting, which left one victim dead, at Sneakers Sports Grille at 8:31 p.m. Officers believe three suspects pulled out firearms, Smith said. The identity of the 21-year-old victim has not been released.
The shootings are believed to be unrelated, Smith said. The investigation remains ongoing, and the identities of the suspects have not been released.
"Quite frankly, I'm pissed off," Smith said. "I want you to come to Jacksonville Beach, I want you to live here, I want you to visit, but if you break the law, we're going to put you in jail."
Smith said officials do not know if any of the shootings were gang-related. The victim who self-reported their injury in the first shooting is a known gang member, he said.
Jacksonville police have asked people to contact authorities if they have information related to the incidents.
veryGood! (255)
Related
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Angela Bassett sparkles at Pamella Roland's Morocco-themed NYFW show: See the photos
- Alabama 'disgusted by' video of racist, homophobic language yelled at Texas players
- U.S. clears way for release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds as part of prisoner swap deal
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Missouri governor appoints appeals court judge to the state Supreme Court
- Jill Duggar Calls Out Dad Jim Bob for Allegedly Treating Her Worse Than “Pedophile Brother” Josh Duggar
- No criminal investigation into lighthouse walkway collapse that injured 11 in Maine
- Mega Millions winning numbers for August 6 drawing: Jackpot climbs to $398 million
- El Chapo's wife set to be released from halfway house following prison sentence
Ranking
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- 8-year-old boy accidentally shot when barrel with guns inside set on fire
- Elderly man, 74, pushed onto NYC subway tracks in unprovoked attack: Police
- Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes Jump Heartfirst Into PDA During Red Hot Date Night at 2023 MTV VMAs
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Why Japan's iconic Mt. Fuji is screaming for relief
- DePaul and athletic director DeWayne Peevy agree to a contract extension through June 2027
- Beleaguered Armenian region in Azerbaijan accepts urgent aid shipment
Recommendation
Meet 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao, the youngest Olympian competing in Paris
See *NSYNC Reunite for the First Time in 10 Years at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards
Former top Trump aide Mark Meadows seeks pause of court order keeping criminal case in Fulton County court
Vaccine skeptics dominate South Carolina pandemic preparation meeting as COVID-19 cases rise
3 years after the NFL added a 17th game, the push for an 18th gets stronger
How is almond milk made? It's surprisingly simple.
NFL power rankings Week 2: Are Jets cooked after Aaron Rodgers' injury?
Woman nearly gifts ex-father-in-law winning $75,000 scratch off ticket