Current:Home > Markets3 separate shootings mar St. Patrick's Day festivities in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. -Legacy Build Solutions
3 separate shootings mar St. Patrick's Day festivities in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
View
Date:2025-04-17 10:34:35
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! (64937)
Related
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- A brush fire prompts evacuations in the Gila River Indian Community southwest of Phoenix
- An asteroid known as a 'mini-moon' will join Earth's orbit for 2 months starting Sunday
- The final day for the Oakland Athletics arrives ahead of next season’s move away from the Bay
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Amal and George Clooney Share the Romantic Way They’re Celebrating 10th Wedding Anniversary
- DirecTV will buy rival Dish to create massive pay-TV company after yearslong pursuit
- Control of the US Senate is in play as Montana’s Tester debates his GOP challenger
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- South Carolina power outage map: Nearly a million without power after Helene
Ranking
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- The final day for the Oakland Athletics arrives ahead of next season’s move away from the Bay
- Calls to cops show specialized schools in Michigan are failing students, critics say
- Travis Hunter strikes Heisman pose after interception for Colorado vs UCF
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Fontes blocked from using new rule to certify election results when counties refuse to
- Alabama football wants shot at Texas after handling Georgia: 'We're the top team.'
- Key Senate race in Arizona could hinge on voters who back Trump and the Democratic candidate
Recommendation
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
MLB playoff scenarios: NL wild card race coming down to the wire
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Smooches
A tiny tribe is getting pushback for betting big on a $600M casino in California’s wine country
From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
Kailyn Lowry Shares Why She Just Developed a Strategy for Dealing With Internet Trolls
Jordan Love injury update: Packers will start veteran quarterback in Week 4 vs. Vikings
Could a doping probe strip Salt Lake City of the 2034 Olympics? The IOC president says it’s unlikely