JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One person is dead and two others are in life-threatening condition after a shooting Wednesday night on Effee Street in Moncrief Park, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Officers responded to that area after reports of gunshots. When officers arrived, they found two boys and one man in life-threatening condition. One of the victims died at the hospital, JSO said.
News4JAX spoke to a woman who lives nearby the shooting. She didn’t want to be identified and described Wednesday evening as anything but calm.
“It was multiple gunshots, like it was probably about 20 or more,” she said.
A home on Effee Street was shot in the midst of the shooting.
“It’s scary, it really is scary,” the woman, who didn’t want to be identified, said.
News4Jax Crime and Safety Analyst Lakesha Burton said what happened in the Moncrief Park area is sad.
“Unfortunately this seems to be the norm now,” Burton said.
Burton noted that shootings such as these affect the community.
“The fact of violence leaves communities feeling hopeless, Burton said. “The ripple effects of violence is very detrimental to families and they have long-term negative effects. And that’s why it’s important to address crime from the grassroots level.”
The neighbor News4JAX spoke with said what’s most concerning about this shooting is it involves children.
“If we can’t do anything to protect our kids, I mean what are we,” the woman who didn’t want to be identified said.
She noted she is optimistic about Mayor-Elect Donna Deegan and hopes she’ll usher in new policies that can make the area safer.
“Something has to be done,” she said. “I’m not sure what but as a community, as the mayor like something just has to be done because we can’t go on like this.”
One of Mayor-Elect Deegan’s plans to combat crime is reviving the Jacksonville Journey Program. The program includes outreach programs for at-risk children and addressed the root cause of violent crime.
Burton said it is something that could really work for the city.
“It will take a deep dive in addressing the issues that we have from a grassroots level but what’s important is that you have all of the community stakeholders at the table. So it’s not just law enforcement because you hear it all the time law enforcement can’t arrest their way out of violent crime.”
The neighbor also said she is hopeful the new approach will be one that is helpful so she can start to enjoy her neighborhood again.
“I just want us to be outside to be able to be safe, with no issues like not being scared to just come outside,” she said.