JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Thursday, police released the identity of a 19-year-old and a 24-year-old shot dead in Jacksonville, two victims in a string of shootings have plagued Jacksonville this week.
19-year-old Gavin Rickard was killed on Pritmore Road Tuesday after an argument, according to police. Police records show Rickard was on the porch of his home when he was shot. Wilkins Dessalines, 33, was arrested and charged for the murder.
Less than 24 hours later, Wednesday night 24-year-old James Bolden III was killed at a Walgreens on Townsend road. Police say 21-year-old Sameer Ramesar is charged with second-degree murder in connection to this shooting. The arrest report states that the two got into a physical fight inside the Walgreens and Bolden was leaving when he was shot and Ramesar walked up to an officer after they arrived, while a perimeter was being set.
“Young people don’t know how to resolve conflict. They resolve conflict with a gun, they resolve it permanently. So it affects the person that’s being shot and killed or seriously injured, it affects the person that’s shooting it and all of their families around," said Ken Jefferson, First Coast News crime & safety analyst.
Six total shootings have happened so far during the first week of April. Three were fatal and only two of those have suspects in custody.
Jefferson says police will work to see if the shootings are connected.
“A lot of times when you see them back to back, if it’s involving young people, most of the time it’s a retaliatory type shooting. It is gang related? (They) don’t know yet, because it’s still early in the investigation," Jefferson said.
According to JSO transparency page, so far in 2024 there have been 17 murders, and arrests have been made in six.