Jacksonville neighbors concerned after Friday shooting
JACKSONVILLE, Ark.—Residents in a Jacksonville neighborhood are expressing concern and sadness after a man was shot and killed Friday night, leaving a growing memorial at the scene and raising questions about safety in the community.
Flowers, keepsakes and other memorial items now mark the location where the shooting happened, serving as a reminder of the life lost and the impact the violence has had on neighbors.
For Makenley Northern-Wilson, the shooting has changed how he feels about his own neighborhood.
“It makes me a little nervous. What if I walked out and something happened to me?” Northern-Wilson said. “Things happen unprovoked all of the time.”
He described the area as one that is usually quiet and peaceful, making the deadly shooting even more unsettling.
“Mothers, children—these are family members. These are people who mean a lot to a lot of other people,” he said. “To know it’s happening in close proximity it’s disturbing. It’s scary.”
While Northern-Wilson hopes justice is served, he says it won’t erase the pain left behind for the victim’s loved ones.
“All you can hope is for justice to be served, but still, that doesn’t fix anything,” he said.
Neighbor Corey Brisco said he was asleep when the shooting occurred but worries about the potential for more violence during the summer months.
“At that time of night I’m normally asleep,” Brisco said. “It’s summertime. Kids don’t have nothing to do around here. It’s going to happen.”
Despite those concerns, Brisco says neighbors are looking out for one another and relying on a strong sense of community to help keep the neighborhood safe.
“We try and tend to our business, and that’s how we’ll pretty much keep ourselves,” Brisco said.
Authorities continue investigating the deadly shooting. No additional information has been released about a possible suspect or what led to the incident.
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