JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Homicide investigators are questioning witnesses after a 16-year old boy was found dead inside a hotel room in East Arlington.
Just before 2:00 a.m. Tuesday, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office investigators say they responded to a call about a person shot at InTown Suites Extended Stay hotel near the corner of St. John's Bluff Road and Atlantic Boulevard.
Investigators found the boy dead and believe he may have been staying at the hotel, but could not say for certain. Police don't know if he's local, but say they do know who he is.
A few witnesses are being questioned by police, but there's no word on what led up to the shooting nor how many times the teen was shot.
First Coast News is waiting to hear back from JSO about who was renting the hotel room and if they are cooperating. Police said in a news briefing early Tuesday morning they were working on getting a search warrant for the room.
First Coast News Crime and Safety Analyst Mark Baughman says the sheriff's office generally gets a search warrant to avoid any rights violations.
First Coast News talked with a group of people who stay at the hotel and said they didn't hear a gunshot and rarely see children on the property.
"I wanted to puke, because my son's 22 and this kid's 16," said a woman named Sondra, who lives at the hotel and did not want to give her last name. "If it's a murder or a suicide you don't want any of your kids, any child to go through that. I'm sorry, 16, 22, you're all children, you know what I mean? Too young for that, too young for that and it's just sad."
JSO would not give any information about the 911 call, but First Coast News has requested it.
There is no suspect description.
If you have any information, please call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500. To leave an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
