A late-night disagreement over a dog sale in Jacksonville, Florida, escalated into a fatal shooting on Saturday, resulting in the death of three individuals, including a toddler, and leaving another person injured. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident took place at a local apartment complex.
The five individuals involved in the incident had gathered at the apartment complex for a private dog sale. However, the specifics of their roles in the transaction, whether as buyers or sellers, are yet to be determined. The altercation that led to the shooting occurred in a passageway between two apartment buildings.
Assistant Chief J.D. Stronko of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stated that four of the five people involved in the dog sale were shot. Among the adults involved, three were in their twenties. Eyewitnesses reported seeing two men fleeing the scene in a vehicle following the shooting. The identities of the victims and suspects have not been released.
The sheriff’s office is actively investigating the incident, interviewing witnesses and surviving victims. A resident of the apartment complex, who wished to be identified only as Rachel, shared her account of the incident with local station WJXT. She reported hearing five or six gunshots and screams, expressing her disbelief at such a violent incident occurring in what she believed to be a safe neighborhood.
The shooting occurred at the JTB Apartment Complex, a property known as the newest luxury apartment in Jacksonville. Due to a state law protecting victims’ rights, the relationship between the victims has not been disclosed. The residences of the victims are also yet to be determined.