JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Jacksonville City Councilwoman Ju\u2019Coby Pittman is calling for additional public safety measures at Clanzel T. Brown Park after a man was fatally shot during an argument at a basketball game.<\/p>\n
Charles Johnson Jr., 33, was shot multiple times shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday at the park on Moncrief Road, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.<\/p>\n
Investigators said Johnson was playing basketball when he began arguing with another man. The suspect, identified by police as 22-year-old Jayden King, allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot Johnson before running from the area.<\/p>\n
RELATED | Man, 22, charged in deadly shooting of 33-year-old over fight during basketball game at park: JSO<\/a><\/p>\n Witnesses identified King, and officers found him less than four miles from the park, according to JSO. He was arrested before midnight and charged with second-degree murder.<\/p>\n Pittman, who represents District 10, said the shooting highlights ongoing concerns about gun violence in the area.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m deeply concerned and frustrated by the continued gun violence, particularly when we are seeing repeated incidents in and around the same areas,\u201d Pittman said in a statement. \u201cOne life lost is one too many, and our residents deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods, parks and public spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n MAD DADS of Northeast Florida president, AJ Jordan, expressed similar concerns and credited the community with stepping in to help, which led to a quick arrest.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was dangerous. You had kids. You had grandparents in the park, so it could have been much worse than what it was. And our hearts go out to the family that lost their loved one yesterday,\u201d Jordan said. \u201cThe community responded quickly, and JSO was able to get that person in custody quickly. So it was the community that really solved the crime.\u201d<\/p>\n The shooting happened less than two months after a 12-year-old boy was shot in the leg<\/a> at the same park during an argument between two groups.<\/p>\n Pittman said city officials need to examine what is driving the violence and determine what additional resources are needed to prevent another shooting.<\/p>\n \u201cThis cannot become something we simply accept as normal,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to know what is driving these incidents, what additional public safety resources are needed and what we can do differently to prevent the next tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n Specifically, Pittman said she wants officials to review lighting, security cameras, staffing, programming, park hours and police presence at Clanzel T. Brown Park.<\/p>\n