ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fight between a group of juveniles at Orange Park Mall Saturday night and a series of gunshots that were heard nearby, deputies said.
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Officials said deputies who were working off-duty began disbursing and trespassing a group of juveniles who were creating a disturbance. On-duty deputies were called to assist with the disbursement.
Investigators said as the crowd was moved into the parking lot near the AMC Movie Theatre, a series of gunshots were heard nearby. Then, a man showed the deputies what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his arm.
He was taken to HCA Orange Park to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
A woman who did not want to be identified said she hadn’t been to Orange Park Mall in years.
“It’s just very unsafe there’s always things going on there that are just not safe for anybody, let alone I’m a mother and I don’t feel comfortable even going there with my children,” the woman said.
Another shopper said similar incidents happen often.
“I go to like Town Center because it’s not going to happen like that [because] it’s more security [and] more police officers. I don’t worry that we haven’t had more police officers but the way the gun laws are we need more security,” the shopper said.
Another said they feel teens should have a curfew.
“It should be a time where they can be there by themselves, but after 5:00 p.m., they would have to be with an adult because kids just don’t act right and people get hurt, things happen,” another shopper said.
Officials haven’t confirmed if the fight and the gunshots are related.
“We have zero tolerance for violence in Clay County. Those responsible for last night will be pursued and punished,” Sheriff Michelle Cook said.
CCSO is asking anyone with information about the incident to call 904-264-6512 or send a video of the fight to SaferWatch.