JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After a man stumbled into a Burger King at the intersection of Hodges and Atlantic boulevards Tuesday night, dying from a gunshot wound, the restaurant is back open while residents are concerned that something so violent happened in their backyard.
According to police, Luciano Brewer (pictured below), 38, walked into the fast-food restaurant about 9 p.m., fell down and didn't ask for help. Rescue was called and he was taken to UF Health Jacksonville, where he died of a gunshot wound.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office still doesn't know where the shooting actually took place, but police are looking for the gunman.
"There is someone at large and we don't know who that person is, so obviously, use caution," Sgt. Craig Waldrup said.
One woman, who asked not to be identified, was sitting in the drive-thru with her children in the back seat and heard gunshots and saw a trail of blood outside the restaurant.
She said the shooting has left her shaken and scared as she remembers the night.
"My children and I were all in an SUV and we went over to Burger King on Atlantic and Hodges," the woman remembered. "Just as I was looking away in my rear-view mirror we heard the gunshots. There were four, they were consecutive and it just sounded like something dropping, we heard metal. It was very scary,"
She said as her and her children waited, pinned in from behind by another car, she could hear the chaos that started in the restaurant.
"Instantly we heard employees, people from inside drive thru window yellin, 'Shots fired! Call 911,'" she said. "All I could tell you is it wasn't even three seconds before we saw the blood everywhere behind the counter. I witnessed people hopping over the counter trying to take cover inside."
The woman said that she was worried to start driving because she didn't know exactly where the shooting was coming from but decided she had to get out of the parking lot.
"I kind of creeped up a little to see if anyone was there. We inched up a little further and further. I just prayed. Then we just drove, we drove," the woman recalled. "I'm so sorry for the loss, I'm so sorry, I am. But I'm blessed that we were saved."
Police do not have a description of the shooter, but said they were checking surveillance footage from the Burger King and other businesses in the area for clues.
"He could have walked 100 yards. He could have walked 2 or 3 miles. It's unknown," News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said. "They will check all of the surveillance in that area to see if they pick up any suspicious activity, just to see if he was walking in a certain area. That would give them a better clue as to where the incident may have happened."
Brewer lived off 118th Street. According to court records, Brewer had several arrests and was on probation for a cocaine conviction last year.
The manager of the Burger King told News4Jax Wednesday that she could not comment about the shooting.
Patrons at the restaurant Wednesday said they were shocked to learn of the violence in the area. One woman said she moved to the Southside because she thought it was safe.
"It's just kind of crazy that it gets that close to home," Micah Pearson said. "I'm praying for the family."
Residents of the area are heeding police advice to exercise caution until the crime is solved.
"We are always worried about our children as well, keeping an eye out for their safety," Priscilla James said.
Anyone who saw or knows anything about the shooting is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward up to $3,000, call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.