On St. Patrick's Day, an active shooter killed one person in the bustling downtown area of Jacksonville Beach, according to police.
Around 8:00 p.m., according to Jacksonville Beach Police Department spokeswoman Tonya Tator, three individuals suffered injuries. The beach in Jacksonville is currently under lockdown.
"The suspects remain at large," she stated. The agency encourages people with knowledge of the incident to come forward. Officers evacuated the area while they gathered evidence and searched for the suspects. The exact number of suspects remains undisclosed.
Desperate revelers fled onto the sands in response to the sound of gunfire emanating from the promenade. While the suspects remain at large, the police have cordoned off an eight-block area and have closed the beachfront bar district in its entirety "until further notice."
Officers report that they are still investigating whether multiple offenders were involved. The incident occurred on the promenade adjacent to Jacksonville Beach Pier, near 2nd Ave N and 1st St N.
An intense police presence was captured on camera near the 2nd Avenue shore access and 1st Street. The JBPD verified one deceased and two victims in critical condition.
It was a shooting. Here is some eye witness video from FB pic.twitter.com/jNlkKB9Jhl
— Jared BayBay (@Jayrod2009) March 18, 2024
Witnesses stated that they observed people fleeing and a victim needing CPR in the vicinity of Joe's Crab Shack. Christine Hofmann, the mayor of Jacksonville Beach, stated that she had come to offer her help to the officers. Several agencies were present at the location.
She stated that business owners showed courage during a hectic weekend that included St. Patrick's Day and The PLAYERS.
Sunday evening, shortly after 9:00 p.m., the Jacksonville Beach Police Department initially disclosed that they were responding to an active shooter situation in the downtown area.
The Department issued a directive for individuals in the vicinity to remain indoors until further notice shortly after 11 p.m. Officers reported that they were in the process of gathering suspect descriptions.
As the widely anticipated Spring Break vacation commences, law enforcement agencies throughout the entire state of Florida have been placed on heightened alert.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced earlier this month that seventeen law enforcement agencies had requested additional Florida Highway Patrol troopers to assist in patrolling their communities during spring break. In contrast, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department was not among them.
"Please call 904-270-1661 if you have any information that could be of assistance to us," read a post on the Jacksonville Beach Emergency Preparedness X account and the police Facebook page.
