JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A shootout that erupted during the morning rush on Monday left numerous vehicles, a business and a home along Beach Boulevard with bullet holes and caused several car crashes on Jacksonville’s Southside.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened just before 7:30 a.m. Several witnesses told police they heard between four to eight gunshots when a black pickup truck and a gray Dodge sedan pulled out of the Alridge Mall parking lot onto Beach Boulevard near San Pablo Road and Hodges Boulevard.
Witnesses told police the driver got out of the sedan and started shooting at the pickup truck.
One man said he saw the man who got out of the sports car empty his clip, according to JSO.
JSO said an officer saw the victim believed to be involved in the shootout walking with his phone in one hand and gun in another. The officer ordered him to drop the gun. The man complied and was placed in handcuffs.
News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney explained how investigators would determine who the victims and suspects are in these types of incidents.
“In a case like this, it’s going to rely really heavily on not only the witness statements but, that’s such a populated area over there, they’re going to try to look and see if there’s any video cameras from businesses that can really shed some light onto to what happened, what started this,” Hackney said.
He said there’s a chance the victim who was placed in handcuffs could also receive charges.
“Depending on what kind of true information is learned, if it is at the end of the day, if this is a true victim who’s doing this there may be some culpable negligence charges as it comes to them carelessly using that firearm in public, even to defend themselves,” Hackney said.
No injuries were reported.
The sheriff’s office did not say if anyone was arrested or would be facing charges.