JACKSONVILLE, FL – The new year has begun in a distressing manner, with the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy in Jacksonville, Florida. This follows another fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy in the same city just days prior, adding to the growing concern over gun violence in the area.
The most recent incident took place on Castle Boulevard, where the boy was found with a gunshot wound and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Authorities have reported that witnesses heard gunshots, but the details surrounding the tragic event remain scarce as the investigation is still in its early stages.
Just days earlier, another 16-year-old boy lost his life in a shooting at an apartment complex after a fight broke out during a gathering. The Sheriff’s Office revealed that the altercation involved two groups of mostly juveniles, but the circumstances of the shooting are still unclear.
The unfortunate deaths of these young boys bring attention to the escalating gun violence in Jacksonville, with the 14-year-old becoming the 157th homicide of 2023. The city had already experienced 11 killings in the final two weeks of the previous year, intensifying concerns about the prevalence of gun-related incidents in the area.
No arrests have been made in connection to either of these cases, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. This marks another grim chapter in the city’s history of violence, particularly among young individuals. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at (904) 630-0500, and First Coast Crime Stoppers can be reached at (866) 845-8477 for those wishing to provide information anonymously.