JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – State Fire Marshals are investigating an Arlington house found burning Tuesday morning that they believe was purposely set on fire.
It's the same house on Hare Avenue, near Century 21 Drive, that was the scene of a fatal shooting on Saturday.
The neighborhood, called Woodlawn Acres but better known as "Sin City," has seen an uptick in crime over the last couple of years.
"They named it for a reason, I think," said Chazan Garcia, who's lived in the neighborhood for about 10 years.
"Well, there's a lot of drugs and drug activity," said Jeremy Whitehead, who grew up in the area. "Back in the day, before the neighborhood was called Sin City, it was called Woodlawn Acres and it was a good neighborhood and everything."
Both residents said the neighborhood that used to have a little crime has now gotten out of control.
"You know, it never used to be around this area, but it used to be down toward those apartments," Garcia said. "But obviously it's moving everywhere now."
On Saturday, there was a double shooting on Hare Avenue. Then the same home was set on fire just after 5 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters said gasoline cans found on and near the house make them suspect arson.
According to police, 22-year-old Jatarvis Johnson was found dead and another man was injured in the shooting. The man who survived told police they were visiting a friend, and when they walked into the home, they were shot.
According to News4Jax records, Hare Avenue has been the site of several crimes this year:
- March 16 -- A man shot his roommate inside their home on Hare Avenue. Injuries were non-life-threatening and the suspect was arrested.
- June 2 -- A woman found a man dead and bleeding inside his apartment on Hare Avenue. That incident happened at the Willow Lakes Apartments.
- Aug. 31 -- A man was shot in the chest during a domestic dispute on Hare Avenue. The man was treated and released. Investigators said a woman shot him and they stopped her at the scene.
"It's not the best neighborhood in the world," Whitehead said. "What you do is your best idea: Just mind your business, stay out of other people's business and don't do drugs."
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said there is hope for the neighborhood by contacting the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and having a meeting about the problems.
"Whenever you have citizen involvement, whenever people know they are uniting together and there are eyes on them, people are watching them, it will slow crime down, at least to a certain degree," Smith said.
If you want JSO to help your neighborhood, go to the city's website.