JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Investigators with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office are working to make an arrest after they said a 12-year-old was struck by a bullet while lying in his bed at home.
Officers were called to College Circle South on Saturday after learning of a reported shooting. Originally, police reported two people were found shot in the neighborhood and hospitalized, but further details were not immediately released.
According to an updated report from police, shots were fired into a home, and a boy was wounded. Police now say as a result of the shooting, the boy might not walk again.
“Investigators continue in their attempts to identify a suspect in the tragic incident that left this undeserving child in what appears to be a lifelong medical battle. We are asking for anyone situated in the area of this crime to review surveillance video for possible information that may assist in this investigation,” the news release reads.
News4Jax returned to the scene of the shooting on Monday. Jacksonville police did not give an exact address of the home, but News4Jax located a house that had several apparent bullet holes in a window and wall.
There was no new information about the second person who was reportedly shot.
News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said police will rely on every tip they can get to piece the shooting together.
“They have certain questions they have to ask themselves,” Jefferson said. “Was this gang-related? Is this just something random? Is it accidental? They’ve got to go through all those check boxes to try and determine what happened.”
By News4Jax count, there have been at least 335 reported shootings in 2020. At least 22 people were under age 18, seven of whom died.
Anyone who has any information was asked to contact 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 contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.