JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – People are furious that a shooting in the Norwood neighborhood happened just feet away from where children were having a football practice.
The shooting happened on Crestwood Street Thursday night. One man was seriously hurt.
People who were there said it was chaotic.
One man who was at the park said the shooting happened out on the street while the Duval Dolphins football practice was going on nearby.
They say whoever that shooter is put innocent kids in harm’s way.
Crime scene tape was wrapped around Barney Browning Park and surrounding streets after a drive-by shooting on Crestwood Street.
Alrah Bynum III was at the park and said he heard about seven or eight gunshots.
“My main concern was where are the kids? Are they OK? I saw a couple of coaches stay back,” Bynum said.
He saw parents sprinting to protect their kids. It’s something the local rapper and activist says people should have never had to worry about.
“When a gun goes off, as a person, you are supposed to hit the ground, or be afraid, but they cannot even run. They have to go and make sure they find their children. People were screaming,” he said. “What if that was your child? That is crazy. We should not have had anything like that transpiring in a place where kids should be having fun. I do not like that at all.”
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said one man was shot once in the chest and rushed to a hospital in serious condition.
Police said the shooter was in a car and sped off firing.
City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman represents the district where it happened. She called it frustrating.
“You don’t know where you are safe in our community, but we cannot let the criminals come and take over our communities,” Pittman said. “It could’ve been a child who was coming out of the park, walking, who was an innocent bystander, and could not be with us today.”
“It should never happen again,” Bynum said.
“I will continue to work on legislation. I will continue to have events in the community so that we can have the engagement of the community because this is the only way we are going to stop crime,” Pittman said.
Crime that many say is absolutely unnecessary.
Police said they don’t know who the shooter is and don’t have a description of the car they were driving.
Investigators are hoping there is some surveillance video that can help them identify who is responsible for this.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call 630-0500 or they can contact Crimestoppers if they would like to remain anonymous at 1-866-845-TIPS.