JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A young man was taken to a local hospital on Friday in critical condition after a shooting in the parking lot of the Avenues Mall.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, two men got into a fight outside the mall around 1:30 p.m. and one of the men pulled out a gun and fired.
JSO said the victim then ran inside the mall to get help and members of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department showed up a short time later. He was taken to a local hospital and JSO said he was in critical condition but expected to survive. JSO said the victim is believed to be in his late 20s.
JSO said the suspected shooter left the mall in a silver SUV.
“To our knowledge, this is an isolated incident and the suspect never reentered the mall following the shooting so no other patrons were in danger,” JSO said during a news conference.
Videos shared with News4JAX show police tape and what appears to be blood on the floor inside the food court.
Heavy police presence at the Avenues Mall. We’re working to learn what transpired here. Stay updated with the latest on @wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/iIcoWuezou
— Aleesia Hatcher (@AHatcherNews) December 1, 2023
JSO said part of the parking lot was blocked off by investigators as they processed evidence. A small section of the food court was also blocked off, but the rest of the mall remains open, JSO said.
Multiple members of JSO were still at the mall and the scene was still active as of 5 p.m. JSO said it is interviewing witnesses and looking at surveillance video.
News4JAX has reached out to management at the mall and they responded with the following statement: “Please direct your inquiry to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact JSO.