JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Northwest Jacksonville pastor and parent said Monday’s shooting near Raines High School doesn’t define the community.
The shooting happened Monday afternoon on Raines Viking Way, just steps from the high school campus.
A 20-year-old man was shot multiple times and remains in critical condition, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Police said the victim is not a student, and all students and staff were reported safe.
Pastor Glenn Foreman Jr. is the senior pastor at Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church and a parent connected to Raines.
“Yesterday’s incident was hard to watch, but at the same time, yesterday’s incident cannot be the leading story of the greatness that is happening in this community,” Foreman Jr. said.
He said while shooting is significant, it can’t overshadow the positivity that comes from the Northside.
“One story does not tell our entire story, because when you look at Jacksonville, so much of the greatness has come off the Northside and especially at 32208, but unfortunately, it’s a picture that’s painting of darkness,” he said.
A woman who did not want to be identified described what he saw.
“I saw about probably 15, 20 little boys walking across my yard and they had on all black like they’re up to something,” she said. “Two seconds later, I just hear a pop, pop and I laid down.”
A neighbor’s home surveillance showed several people walking away from the incident shortly after those gunshots were heard.
The woman said that large gatherings like that have happened often.
“It’s daily and that’s been going on definitely, I’ve noticed for the last six months maybe,” she said.
She said she also wants to see JSO patrolling the area to deter the large groups.
“I feel like if they see the presence of the police, they know that they’re not playing,” she said.
Jacksonville City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman, who represents the district, said she was “very disturbed” by the violence, especially given the timing — as students were leaving school for the day.
“To hear that is happening while kids are getting out of school, we’ve got to come together,” Pittman said. “Make sure kids understand how tragic this could be.”
Still, Pittman emphasized that the location and circumstances make the incident especially troubling.
“Coming down these streets and seeing the video — it’s horrifying,” she said. “It was very disturbing.”
Her concerns are heightened as the community approaches the anniversary of Rashaud Fields’ death — a Raines High School senior who was shot and killed on his graduation day in May 2022.
“Coming up on the anniversary with Rashaud Fields, so for this to happen in this space — it’s horrifying,” Pittman said.
Pittman also addressed broader concerns about violence and access to guns in the community.
“I believe guns have no place in our neighborhoods or in our schools,” she said.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts by city leaders to fund community programs, Pittman said the issue goes beyond policy or investment alone.
“I don’t think it’s just the policies, because there are policies in place,” she said. “As a City Council, we come together and invest in programs for the community. So I don’t think it’s totally an investment — it’s always a matter of timing and what’s going on.”
She added that she has been working with State Rep. Wyman Duggan, who is expected to announce continued funding for programs in the area.
Ultimately, Pittman called for a united effort from across the community to address violence and protect young people.
“I’m asking parents, pastors, everybody — we’ve got to come together,” she said.
Foreman Jr. said they are working to change the narrative.
“It hurt my heart because I know what was going to be said,” Foreman Jr. said. “We can’t control everything that goes on, because our schools sit in the heart of the community. So I hate that somebody got shot. Thank God, that individual’s not dead, but how can we fix it?”
He said pastors’ biggest mission is to go where the students are to make the biggest influence.
“Well, you actually have a lot of pastors who have become substitute teachers who are working in schools just to be a president, and to understand what can be done to help,” he said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said additional patrols will be present at Raines High School out of an abundance of caution. Investigators do not believe there is an ongoing threat, and no arrests have been announced.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact JSO at 904-630-0500.