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Advocates rally against gun violence in Jacksonville as city sees drop in homicides

Woman found dead from gunshot wound night before unity walk against violent crime

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman was found dead from a gunshot wound late Thursday night in the Robinson’s Addition area of Jacksonville’s Westside, police said.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, an officer was flagged down by someone who wanted to report a shooting on Bradford Street, which is a block south of Commonwealth Avenue, east of McDuff Avenue.

Officers found the woman dead from at least one gunshot wound outside a home and detained two people who were in the home, JSO said.

The deadly shooting came just one day before National Gun Violence Awareness Day, when community leaders will gather to honor those affected by gun violence in Jacksonville.

A Unity Walk planned for Friday night, led by groups like FL Moms Demand Action and ICARE, aims to put an end to gun violence.

The march starts at 6:30 p.m. along the North River Bank at the Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller Warren Bridge. The event kicks off the “Wear Orange” weekend to draw attention to gun violence.

The numbers show improvement for Jacksonville when it comes to deadly violence. The city saw a 40% drop in murders compared to the same time frame last year.

So far in 2024, there have been 38 homicides and 26 murders. Nine deaths have not been classified yet, so the numbers could change.

During the same stretch last year, there were 62 homicides and 43 murders.

Friday’s event includes a diaper drive for the Diaper Bank of Northeast Florida, which shares the lifesaving BeSMART message of secure firearm storage with new parents.

Anyone with information about the Bradford Street shooting is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.