JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A shooting in the back parking lot of a Checkers Drive-In Restaurant on Kings Road left Sunday afternoon left one man dead and one man critically injured, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
At around 4:50 p.m., Jacksonville police received a ShotSpotter call for 10 rounds fired in the area of Whitner Street just off Kings Road in the New Town neighborhood. Arriving officers found two men in their early 20s suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside their black four-door sedan.
Jacksonville Fire Rescue took both men to UF Health, where one of them died. The other man is in critical condition.
JSO is working to identify these men and notify their next of kin. They say they have no clues on the motive so far.
“At this point I’m not aware of any other vehicles being stopped,” said Sgt. Steve Rudlaff. "I think they are just stopping people who are coming through, trying to identify. There are family members that have come towards trying to find out if these are their family members or not. At this point we’re not able to release that information until we identify the next of kin.”
All the sergeant could tell WJXT about their identity is they are both in their early twenties.
Police say the victims tried to drive out of the area, but ended up crashing against a tree near the parking lot.
The JSO crime scene appeared to stretch multiple blocks. Police say this is a busy area near the Edward Waters College campus. They believe someone must have seen something and urge them to call JSO.
Detectives are canvassing the area, also going door-to door to check for witnesses and surveillance video.
If anyone has any information, you’re asked to call JSO at (904) 630-7600, or to contact First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1(866) 845-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.