By Jerald Jimenez
Aug 26, 2023, 17:58 PM EDT
Several deaths were reported after a shooting took place in Jacksonville, Florida, this Saturday, according to local authorities.
The mayor of that city, Donna Deegan, confirmed this Saturday that there is a large “number of deaths” after the shooting that caused a strong police presence on Kings Road, northwest of Jacksonville, News4Jax reported.
“This is unacceptable,” Deegan said in a statement. “One shooting is too many, but these mass shootings are really hard to bear.”
Several sources collected by the previously cited outlet pointed out that a suspicious man was seen around 12:45 pm at Edward Waters University behind a library after putting on a bulletproof vest.
The sources added that college campus security tried to apprehend the suspect, but was unsuccessful.
A witness, who was about to enter the store where the shooting occurred, indicated that the only thing that prevented him from entering the place was realizing that he had no money on him, so he went to another nearby store moments before hearing the shots. He assured that the shooter was shooting at several cars.
District 13 State Representative Angie Nixon, who represents the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, called the incident “tragic,” adding that they were trying to calm residents and offer support.
“These are things that we want to try to avoid by making sure that our communities have all the resources, making sure that we create a climate of love and not tension,” Nixon told Jacksonville city leaders regarding the tragedy.
The tragic event occurred on the same day, but five years ago, when a shooter killed two people and wounded 11 others, before committing suicide in the old Jacksonville Landing, News4Jax stressed.
With information from the New York Post
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