JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 4-year-old girl and woman were shot in the driveway of a home on Jacksonville's Northside Wednesday night, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
JSO's Lieutenant Stephens says at 11:35 p.m., patrol officers responded to a call about a person shot in the 11000 block of Oaklawn Road. When officers arrived, Stephens says they learned that two women and the 4-year-old girl had been sitting inside of a vehicle in the driveway when a "light-colored SUV drove by and opened fire in the direction of the residence."
The family tells First Coast News that the mother is currently in the ICU and her daughter is still in surgery to remove bullets from her leg after both were shot multiple times in the driveway of their home.
“They have no respect for anyone, they are killing and trying to kill children,” said Bernadette Fields, who was visibly angry and distraught to be woken up Wednesday night to news that her sister and 4 year old niece were shot in an SUV outside of their home.
Stephens says one of the women and the child were struck by gunfire, as they are both currently at local hospitals being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. JSO says there is currently no suspect description.
Fields told First Coast News, she was "just floored."
“I was just floored, just in unbelief of who would shoot someone sitting in their yard,” said Fields, “who would shoot a 4 year old?”
She said the child is in the hospital with her eyes swollen shut, and they were "told the bullet may have grazed her eyes."
Several neighbors said their children played with the 4 year old who was shot. They said the kids were using sidewalk chalk to color as recently as Wednesday afternoon.
Neighbors said they heard at least 15 shots fired, the family told First Coast News the 4 year old was shot six times and that the mother was hit in the back twice.
“The gun violence in this city is out of control, and something needs to be done about it,” said Fields.
Shattered glass from the shot-out windows of the SUV still littered the ground where it sat during the shooting hours after the police tape was taken down from the home.
Detectives were on scene after the shooting occurred, processing evidence and searched the area for surveillance video, police say.
Anyone with information on the shooting, is asked to contact JSO's non-emergency number at 904-630-0500 or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
