Share and Follow
Early Sunday morning, a shooting incident outside the Paxon Shopping Center resulted in four individuals being hospitalized. As of Monday, authorities have not apprehended the suspect involved in the incident.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Authorities are in pursuit of a suspect following a shooting at a shopping center on Jacksonville’s Westside that injured four people. The shooting occurred early Sunday morning, and the perpetrator remains at large as of Monday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported that officers responded to the Paxon Shopping Center shortly after 12:30 a.m. The gunfire erupted following an altercation inside a bar, which subsequently moved into the parking lot.
On Monday, Josie Sakoo, manager of Paxon Liquors and Lounge, expressed her ongoing distress over the events that unfolded outside her establishment. In an interview with First Coast News, she shared her feelings of helplessness and uncertainty about the next steps to improve safety.
“We feel helpless, sometimes, literally as far as the management and ownership. We just don’t know what else to do. What’s the next step to make it better,” Sakoo remarked with concern.
According to police, four men between the ages of 44 and 57 were shot. Three were transported to the hospital, while a fourth person drove themselves for treatment. All are expected to be okay.
Sakoo said the violence has deeply impacted her, her staff, and the surrounding community.
“We love everybody in this neighborhood, we are part of you. We are hurt also. We don’t wanna see anybody get hurt,” said Sakoo.
Sakoo said the shooting also damaged the business and injured one of her employees.
“The shooting happened outside. They hit the glass and glass shattered, and a bullet went through and hit our security while he was inside walking toward the back.”
Investigators described the suspect as a Black man wearing all dark clothing who ran from the scene on foot.
In past reporting, First Coast News analyzed Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office data that showed officers have been called to the Paxon Shopping Center more than 100 times since the start of 2025 — raising ongoing concerns about safety in the area.
Sakoo said she hopes police are able to find whoever is responsible.