JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man was shot sitting in his car somewhere in Arlington on Wednesday morning, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said they got a call about the shooting around 8:30 a.m. after the victim drove to a Mcdonald’s restaurant on University Boulevard North looking for help. JSO said the shooting happened somewhere between the 1000 block and the 1500 block of University Blvd N.
JSO said the victim was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
The victim said he knew the shooter and JSO said it is now looking for the person of interest.
The shooting marks a string of violence in the Arlington area over the last two weeks. There have been 10 people shot in the last week and the community has nearly tripled its number of homicides -- 18 already this year. So far, JSO has not announced any arrests in connection with the shootings.
JSO said the Wednesday shooting is an isolated event not connected to any of the recent shootings.
Residents say they are tired of the violence.
“It’s ridiculous," resident Roger said last week. “Can’t let your kids out. Crime from 7:00 in the morning until 7:30 at night.”
Police and community leaders have been vocal about the recent violence which includes a shooting near a youth football game.
News4Jax Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson says residents in Arlington can’t rely on police alone to solve this.
“They have to depend on the community, on cooperation,” Jefferson said. “The way you do that is you build a relationship.”
Local families hope the solution to this violence comes soon.
“I don’t know whether it’s a side effect of the coronavirus or what,” Roger said. “Economics and everything around here is horrible.”