JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Sandalwood community in Jacksonville finds itself in shock after a Friday night shooting resulted in the death of a minor and the hospitalization of two others, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Locals describe the violence as unexpected in what they consider a typically quiet and serene area.

“I was sitting in my living room watching TV. Initially, I thought it might be fireworks,” said Grace Lim, a resident of over 40 years.

Joy Wallace, who has called the neighborhood home since 1989, echoed the sentiment, saying, “It sounded like a long string of firecrackers going off.”

Surveillance footage provided by a neighbor showed multiple gunshots around 9 p.m., including a man staggering past a stop sign before turning and firing again.

The shooting unfolded right in front of Wallace’s home. 

“At that time, there was still a guy who was lying on the ground over there,” she said.

JSO reports that officers arrived about 10 minutes after the shots were fired. A young man under 18 was found lying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds and later died at the hospital. Authorities also found an adult man inside a car with gunshot wounds and another young man with a single gunshot wound.

Bullets flew through the neighborhood, with at least one reportedly striking a home just inches from a window.

“It’s a peaceful place,” said Lim. Wallace added, “Older retired people, and there are young families and people with little kids. Somebody’s family is going to be just heartbroken this holiday because they’ve lost somebody over something senseless.”

JSO believes the shooting was related to a drug deal and has confirmed this was an isolated incident with no ongoing danger to the public.

At this time, the victims’ identities have not been released, and the investigation remains active.