The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said a man found shot at the Pine Hill apartments was believed to have been meeting the suspect to buy an item.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is searching for the suspect in a shooting believed to have happened during a planned meet-up for a sale.

Police responded to the Pine Hill apartment complex on Oriole Street just after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after a person was reported shot. There, police found a man with a gunshot wound to his arm and back. 



This story continues below.

That man is expected to survive, but his shooter was not immediately found. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is looking for a male suspect believed to have fled the scene in a dark-colored pickup truck.

According to police, he and the victim had met on Instagram and arranged to meet up that night so the victim could buy an item from him.

“During the interaction, the victim paid the suspect for the item then the suspect displayed a firearm and fired multiple shots in the direction of the victim,” JSO Sgt. Richardson wrote in a media briefing.

As police search for additional evidence, witnesses and surveillance video, they are also asking for anyone in the community with information on the incident to come forward. Tips can be submitted to JSO directly at 904-630-0500 or anonymously through First Coast Crime Stoppers.


Conducting safe sales

With the prevalence of online-arranged sales, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has designated seven locations, including one in every police district, for safe transactions.

They are hosted at the Police Memorial Building downtown and at six JSO substations:

Police Memorial Building: 501 East Bay StreetDistrict 1 Substation: 5258-13 Norwood AvenueDistrict 2 Substation: 9119 Merrill RoadDistrict 3 Substation: 8875 Liberty Ridge Drive, Suite 110District 4 Substation: 3726 Blanding BoulevardDistrict 5 Substation: 1767 Kings RoadDistrict 6 Substation: 1680 Dunn Avenue, Suite 39

“These are safe, well-lit spots with surveillance cameras, so if anything happens, you’re covered,” JSO wrote on social media. “If your seller or buyer doesn’t want to meet at one of our spots, that’s a red flag.”