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A hit-and-run incident in the Sandalwood neighborhood took a dangerous turn, resulting in a shooting that has heightened safety worries among local entrepreneurs.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is delving into the details of a shooting linked to a hit-and-run that occurred on Tuesday evening in Sandalwood.
According to police reports, officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of St. Johns Bluff Road South around 9 p.m. in response to a shooting alert. Upon arrival, they discovered a man with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was promptly taken to the hospital and is expected to recover fully.
Authorities indicate that the shooting unfolded following a hit-and-run collision. The victim had pursued the suspect after the crash. At a certain point, the suspect halted, fired shots at the victim’s vehicle, and subsequently escaped.
This unsettling event has left local business owners uneasy about the security of their community.
“I’m kind of shocked a little bit, but then part of me is not because probably in the last 6 to 8 months I’ve seen and heard about so many incidents in this area,” said Anthony Delacruz, owner of Hairz Looking At You Inc.
Delacruz has owned his salon on St. Johns Bluff Road for 25 years and says incidents like this have become more common. He worries about how ongoing violence could impact his clients.
“I am concerned, but I don’t want my clients to be,” he says. “I want the best for my clients, I don’t want them to be like ‘Oh, I’m not going over there now cause that stuff happens over there’.”
While Delacruz says he understands why someone might want to follow a driver after a hit-and-run, he acknowledges the risks.
“I can actually understand why the guy went after the other guy because he’s thinking that he has to pay for it,” Delacruz says. “If I didn’t have that guy’s information, I would probably go after him too.”
First Coast News crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson says following another driver can quickly turn dangerous.
“It is very dangerous for you to follow a suspect. If you’re gonna follow them, do it at a safe distance — far enough where you can get a tag number or vehicle description and give it all to the police,” Jefferson states. “Don’t try to take matters into your own hands because you are diving into the unknown.”
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call JSO’s non-emergency number at 904-630-0500. To provide information anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.