Current:Home > Finance3 separate shootings mar St. Patrick's Day festivities in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. -Triumph Financial Guides
3 separate shootings mar St. Patrick's Day festivities in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
SafeX Pro View
Date:2025-04-08 14:18:52
Police are searching for multiple suspects in three different shootings that left one person dead and at least three injured as thousands crowded in downtown Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Sunday night for St. Patrick's Day festivities.
The shootings occurred near the city's beachfront after police broke up a group of up to 400 people in their late teens who gathered under the pier Sunday afternoon.
"This group engaged in boxing matches, fights and other incidents. The Jacksonville Beach Police Department had to take action," Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said at a new conference on Monday morning. "When the crowd dispersed, that's when the shooting happened."
Police responded to the first shooting at a Best Western hotel at around 7:50 p.m., Smith said. The shooting left three people injured – two were transported to the hospital afterwards, and another self-reported an injury. Authorities believe two of the victims fired at each other, while the third was an innocent bystander, Smith said.
Less than half an hour later, reports came in of a second shooting in a parking lot outside the Ritz, a cocktail bar. No one was injured or killed, and the shooter fled the scene in a black ski mask, Smith said. Officers found one firearm.
Police responded to the third shooting, which left one victim dead, at Sneakers Sports Grille at 8:31 p.m. Officers believe three suspects pulled out firearms, Smith said. The identity of the 21-year-old victim has not been released.
The shootings are believed to be unrelated, Smith said. The investigation remains ongoing, and the identities of the suspects have not been released.
"Quite frankly, I'm pissed off," Smith said. "I want you to come to Jacksonville Beach, I want you to live here, I want you to visit, but if you break the law, we're going to put you in jail."
Smith said officials do not know if any of the shootings were gang-related. The victim who self-reported their injury in the first shooting is a known gang member, he said.
Jacksonville police have asked people to contact authorities if they have information related to the incidents.
veryGood! (2333)
Related
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Which Las Vegas Hotel Fits Your Vibe? We've Got You Covered for Every Kind of Trip
- Chanel West Coast Reveals Why She Really Left Ridiculousness
- Olivia Wilde Shares Rare Photo of Her and Jason Sudeikis’ 7-Year-Old Daughter Daisy
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- We are more vulnerable to tornadoes than ever before | The Excerpt
- Why Selma Blair Would Never Get Married to Mystery Boyfriend
- U.S. Navy exonerates Black sailors unjustly punished in WWII Port Chicago explosion aftermath
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- People across the nation have lost jobs after posts about Trump shooting
Ranking
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- The Vampire Diaries' Torrey DeVitto Says She Quit Show Due to Paul Wesley Divorce
- Greenhouses are becoming more popular, but there’s little research on how to protect workers
- Kenney Grant, founder of iconic West Virginia pizza chain Gino’s, dies
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Last Chance for Amazon Prime Day 2024 Deals: Top Finds Under $25 on Beauty, Home, Travel, Kids & More
- Hawaii’s latest effort to recruit teachers: Put prospective educators in classrooms sooner
- Parent Trap's Lindsay Lohan Reunites With Real-Life Hallie 26 Years Later
Recommendation
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
Arlington Renegades, Bob Stoops, draft Oklahoma WR Drake Stoops in UFL draft
Chanel West Coast Reveals Why She Really Left Ridiculousness
US Army honors Nisei combat unit that helped liberate Tuscany from Nazi-Fascist forces in WWII
Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
U.S. Navy exonerates Black sailors unjustly punished in WWII Port Chicago explosion aftermath
The challenges of navigating an unrelenting news cycle
Appeals court affirms Mississippi’s ban on voting after some felonies, including timber theft