JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three people are dead, including a 3-year-old, following a shooting Saturday night at the JTB Apartments in the Baymeadows area, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
JSO's Assistant Chief Stronko said just after 10 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to the apartment complex on 8876 A.C. Skinner Pkwy in reference to a shooting.
Upon arrival, Stronko said officers discovered five victims in total, with four suffering from gunshot wounds. Three of the victims, including a 3-year-old child, died from their injuries. Three of the four adults are in their 20s and the last adult has not been identified, police say.
The five individuals had traveled to the apartments, "possibly to conduct the private sale of a dog," according to JSO.Stronko says "for reasons that are unknown to us at this time," a dispute happened in the breezeway of the apartment complex which led to the shooting.
First Coast News spoke with Men Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder (MAD DADS) Outreach Coordinator AJ Jordan who said the shooting is taking a massive toll on the 3-year-old's family.
"Our families need support because this is devastating for families. It's tearing families apart," Jordan said. "Any type of gun violence doesn't make sense. Whether it's a dog, drug deal, breaking in a house, whatever, it don't make sense."
Jordan said MAD DADS is encouraging anyone who saw anything to report it to authorities to help bring a sense of justice and closure to the family.
"I already let the family know we do go out in the community, and if that's something we need do, we'll do it to activate the community and tell what they know."
JSO says "suspect information is limited at this time," but two witnesses told police they saw two unknown men fleeing the scene, "possibly in a black sedan" after the shooting occurred.
Stronko says interviews with the remaining victims and witnesses are ongoing. He also says the shooting "involved possibly a couple of apartments," and police are conducting search warrants in the area.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to call JSO's non-emergency number at 904-630-0500 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.