JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Five men were wounded in two separate shootings in Jacksonville on Saturday morning within 45 minutes of each other. Two of the men died.
A deadly triple shooting was reported in the parking lot of a strip mall on Soutel Drive near the intersection of New Kings Road.
That news does not surprise Geanene White, who lives in the neighborhood.
“It’s just sad,” White said as she was on her way to visit her parents. “We all just need to come together and stop the violence. It is ridiculous. It’s always something going on up here on this corner.”
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, three men got into an argument in that parking and eventually started shooting at each other around 2:15 a.m.
Police said all three men knew each other.
One of the men was killed at the scene.
The other two were rushed to a nearby hospital where a second man died.
The third man is in critical condition.
The large crime scene delayed Frank Smith from getting to work.
“It’s crazy because I could have been here at work at the time that happened,” he said.
Sgt. Chris Stephens with JSO’s homicide unit said this was an isolated situation and police are not searching for any suspects.
There have now been 26 homicides in Duval County so far this year, according to our News4JAX records.
Almost six miles away, two men were shot 45 minutes earlier at Whispers Crab House & Oyster Bar downtown on West Forsyth Street.
JSO said around 1:30 a.m., one of the men shot was rushed to a nearby hospital. A little bit later, the second man showed up at the same hospital.
Police expect both men to survive.
No one has been arrested in that case and detectives are working to determine a motive.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information in either shooting to contact them at 904-630-0500, CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org.