Jacksonville Police Report Two Deaths and 11 Injuries in Halloween Shootings

Two people died and 11 others were hospitalized after separate gunfights erupted at Halloween parties in Jacksonville early Sunday morning. Authorities confirmed the incidents were unrelated but occurred within a two-hour window in the city's Regency area.

The first shooting happened at 1:45 a.m. in the 6200 block of Arlington Expressway. Police found a 17-year-old girl with a gunshot wound who was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other bystanders were shot and taken to the hospital. Investigators determined that at least two young men in dark clothing fired the shots after a crowd gathered outside a party entrance.

Commander Jacob Vorpahl of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office stated that all three victims in the first incident were innocent bystanders not involved in the initial fight. Both surviving victims from that shooting are expected to recover.

A second shooting took place at 3:50 a.m. at a house on West 5th Street. A 20-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound and later died at a nearby hospital. Police later learned that nine additional people had taken themselves to area hospitals, bringing the total number of victims in the second incident to 10.

The nine surviving victims in the West 5th Street shooting are between the ages of 15 and 25. One has life-threatening injuries, while the other eight have non-life-threatening wounds. Police have not released details on suspects in this second incident.

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters addressed the violence in a statement, saying he was saddened by the heinous acts and that the city would work tirelessly to bring the criminals to justice. He noted that violence has no place in Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is asking the public to call (904) 630-0500 or submit tips to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-8477. Vorpahl said that information leading to an arrest could qualify for a reward of up to $5,000.