St Patrick’s Day Shooting in Jacksonville Beach

On Sunday, March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, in Jacksonville Beach, police said the incidents started Sunday with a planned gathering of 250-400 people in their late teens and early 20s under the pier. Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said officers broke up the crowd because they started fighting. The first shooting happened as the crowd separated.

A shooting was reported at 7:50 p.m. near a hotel on 1st Street, left three people injured, including the two men who fired at each other, police said. An innocent bystander from out of town was also wounded.

They said 21-year-old James Jones III was rushed to the hospital after he was shot around 8:30 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of a sports restaurant on Beach Boulevard at 1st Street North. He died at the hospital.

Police have not announced any arrests but said they are looking for three young potential shooters wearing dark clothing and armed with handguns and a rifle or AR-type pistol.

In one of the incidents Sunday, a man wearing a ski mask fired a shot as he ran past a bar on 3rd Avenue. No one was hit and police later found that gun, Jacksonville Beach Police said.

Investigators are also reviewing footage from the city’s CCTV system to piece together answers and locate potential shooters and people involved.

Anyone with information that could help police in their investigation is urged to contact the Jacksonville Beach Police Department at 904-270-1661. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward up to $3,000, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS or dial **TIPS (star star 8477) on your cell phone.