Current:Home > Scams3 separate shootings mar St. Patrick's Day festivities in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.-InfoLens
3 separate shootings mar St. Patrick's Day festivities in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
View Date:2024-12-23 14:56:53
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! (5271)
Related
- Study finds Wisconsin voters approved a record number of school referenda
- Biden is traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, according to AP sources
- US government may sue PacifiCorp, a Warren Buffett utility, for nearly $1B in wildfire costs
- Former MLB pitcher José DeLeón dies at 63
- GM recalls 460k cars for rear wheel lock-up: Affected models include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac
- West Virginia medical professionals condemn bill that prohibits care to at-risk transgender youth
- 15-year-old from Massachusetts arrested in shooting of Vermont woman found in a vehicle
- Once Upon a Time’s Chris Gauthier Dead at 48
- Candidates line up for special elections to replace Virginia senators recently elected to US House
- Donald Trump appeals $454 million judgment in New York civil fraud case
Ranking
- Daniele Rustioni to become Metropolitan Opera’s principal guest conductor
- West Virginia medical professionals condemn bill that prohibits care to at-risk transgender youth
- NYC journalist's death is city's latest lithium-ion battery fire fatality, officials say
- US sues to block merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, saying it could push prices higher
- Are Dancing with the Stars’ Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber Living Together? She Says…
- Biden is traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, according to AP sources
- 2024 second base rankings: Iron man Marcus Semien leads AL, depth rules NL
- Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen among 2.3 million vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
Recommendation
-
Brands Our Editors Are Thankful For in 2024
-
Walz signs his first bill of the 2-week-old legislative session, fixes error to save taxpayers $350M
-
Texas man made $1.76 million from insider trading by eavesdropping on wife's business calls, Justice Department says
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the U.S. would be doing a hell of a lot more after a terror attack
-
Democratic state leaders prepare for a tougher time countering Trump in his second term
-
These Versatile Black Pant Picks Will Work with Every Outfit, for Any Occasion
-
Version 1.0: Negro Leagues statistics could soon be entered into MLB record book.
-
Michigan will be purple from now until November, Rep. Debbie Dingell says