JACKSONVILLE,Fla. – Police on Wednesday announced the identities of the two people killed when gunfire erupted in two locations on the Westside earlier this week. In one of the shootings, the victim was just 15 years old.
Maleek Parks was shot to death in the 1100 block of Comanche Street Monday night.
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About a half hour before the Comanche Street shooting, and only a few blocks away, 22-year-old Maurice Copeland was shot and killed at the Eureka Garden Apartments on Labelle Street.
No suspects have been arrested in either killing.
The apartments where Copeland was killed is not an uncommon place to hear gunshots. Channel 4 reporters have heard shots fired during their live shots as they covered stories at Eureka Garden.
Police said they also hear the gunfire all the time, but lately it's started to get worse. This year alone there have been at least five homicides at the complex.
"There's been years and years ... it's almost like the perfect storm," said Rev. Mark Griffin.
Griffin built a church across the street. He said the church's location is no accident.
"We saw a mission field," Griffin said.
Police talked about the apartment complex on Wednesday afternoon when they held a news conference to announce an arrest made in a year-old slaying that happened at Eureka Garden.
Antwon Brown, 19, was charged with murder in the 2006 slaying of 32-year-old Michael Johnson.
Griffin said an increased police presence would only be part of the solution for the area. He said a lot more needs to happen in the community itself for Eureka Garden to get better.