The 12-year-old was taken to the hospital and is recovering after being shot Sunday night at Clanzel T. Brown Park, according to the sheriff’s office.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is still looking for the person responsible for shooting a 12-year-old boy on Sunday night. Officers say the shooting happened around 9 pm at Clanzel T. Brown Park, near the intersection of Moncrief Road and West 35th Street.
Officers say the 12-year-old was taken to the hospital and is recovering.
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According to a release from the sheriff’s office, a group of young people were gathered at the park on Sunday night. They say part of the group left and ended up coming back with a gun. Officers believe some type of altercation happened between the two groups that led to the 12-year-old being shot in the leg.
District 10 City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman, who represents this portion of Jacksonville, says she believes city officials are doing as much as they can to curb the violence by providing more activities for kids and teens to enjoy over the summer break.
“I think they’re looking for something they can call their own, but they don’t realize how dangerous those pop-ups are,” Pittman said about the recent cases of teen gatherings ending in violence.
At Clanzel T. Brown Park, there is a playground, swimming pool, covered basketball courts and a Boys and Girls Club. Now, she says it’s up to the people responsible for this kind of violence to start taking responsibility for themselves.
“We have to continue to do what we do, but we also have to get the kids to take responsibility that their actions could endanger someone,” said Pittman. “I don’t want just because they’re out of school for that to be an excuse.”
She says that parents and guardians can also help by making sure they’re aware of what their kids are getting into, especially while they’re on summer break.
“You gotta know what your children are doing, you know what I mean?” Pittman said. “Especially at 12 years old.”
No arrests have been made at this time. JSO is asking anyone who might have information regarding what happened to call their tips line at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).