JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says police shot a suspect who opened fire into a crowd of people leaving a football game at First Coast High School.
According to police, the suspect, who they identified as Devonn Thompson,15, was grazed in the head and shot in the leg. Investigators could not confirm whether the suspect was a student.
Thompson was arrested for discharging a firearm on school property and carrying a concealed firearm.
The Sheriff’s Office said it received information from school police earlier in the day that there could be possible fights. In response, officers increased security at the game between First Coast High School and Ribault High School.
The Duval County Schools police chief believes due to security measures in place, the suspect never entered the game with a firearm.
Police say the shooting happened after the principal ended the game in the third quarter due to fights that broke out.
JSO said Thompson was shooting into a large crowd.
Two police officers, who were nearby after pulling someone over for a traffic stop, quickly ran toward Thompson. JSO said the officers chased him through the parking lot, fired their guns multiple times then arrested the teen at a neighboring business.
No officers were injured.
“When these young people just seem to have no care for life it really makes you angry,” Thomas Hackney, retired JSO director said. “It’s frightening, it’s frustrating. It should anger everyone that calls Jacksonville home.”
Hackney said the recent string of shootings, especially Fridays that happened at an event where children were, makes you concerned to let one’s kids go anywhere.
“Violent crime touches just every aspect of our lives and as a parent,” Hackney said. “There shouldn’t be a parent in this city or this country that worries sending a kid to a high school football game.”
JSO confirmed that someone was taken to the hospital in serious condition after the shooting.
The State Attorney’s Office is investigating.
#JSO is on the scene of an Officer Involved Shooting near the intersection of Starratt Road and Duval Station Road. Please avoid the area. Stay tuned for further details. pic.twitter.com/6YW33Ea6VB
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) August 19, 2023