JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A shooting that injured a woman early Saturday morning has renewed concerns among Southside business owners who say large late-night gatherings along Atlantic Boulevard have become a recurring problem.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, officers responded around 4 a.m. to reports of reckless driving and loud music on Atlantic Boulevard about 2 minutes west of Arlington Road North. When officers arrived, they found a large group of people in the area.
As officers dispersed the crowd, they heard a gunshot and found a woman in her 30s suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, police said.
The victim was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition. Investigators said she is cooperating with the investigation.
Police said the suspected shooter has not been identified. Detectives recovered shell casings from the scene and spent much of Saturday processing evidence and reviewing surveillance video.
At this time, investigators do not know whether the victim and suspect knew each other. Police said there is nothing to indicate the shooting was gang-related or domestic in nature.
JSO believes the shooting was an isolated incident and said there is no indication nearby homes or businesses were struck by gunfire.
The shooting was captured on surveillance video obtained by News4JAX, which shows a crowd gathered outside shortly before a gunshot rings out.
While detectives continue searching for answers, nearby business owners say ongoing issues tied to weekend crowds have been affecting the area for weeks.
“The concern is having people around after hours is scary,” said Darya Zakharchenia, owner of Compass Auto.
Business owners told News4JAX they frequently arrive to find parking lots littered with alcohol bottles, food containers, and other trash left behind after overnight gatherings.
“We see liquor bottles, trash from food, and just last night, someone found this wallet in the parking lot,” said Lorenzo Galloway, who owns property in the area.
Galloway said cleaning up after weekend crowds has become a routine task.
“It’s been a weekly occurrence,” he said. “The parking lot is dirty, so I have to come over here and clean it up from the activities that happened the night before.”
Some owners also worry about crime beyond litter. Zakharchenia said her business recently dealt with an attempted theft involving an air conditioning unit that left the property damaged.
The latest shooting has prompted some property owners to consider additional security measures, including posting more no-trespassing signs and increasing enforcement on private property.
“There’s safety concerns and there’s also liability concerns,” Galloway said. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen on this property.”
Business owners said they understand people gather in the area on weekends, but they are asking visitors to respect neighboring businesses.
“You’ve got to respect your neighbors,” Zakharchenia said.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500, email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org or contact First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
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