JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two girls were injured during a shooting at an extended stay hotel near Baymeadows Center Wednesday night where, less than 48 hours ago, some residents were told to vacate the property.
Around 8:07 p.m., the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to America's Best Inn, located at 8220 Dix Ellis Trail.
When they arrived, they say found a 10-year-old girl who appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. She was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to be OK, JSO says.
An 11-year-old girl as injured as well during the incident, but JSO says her injuries were minor. They did not say she was shot.
They were both outside playing when the incident occurred, police say.
JSO says the incident happened as a result of an altercation between a man who was on the top level of the hotel and a man in a newer model four-door sedan who was in the parking lot.
Police say the man on the top level fired at the vehicle, which then sped away in an unknown direction.
The suspect on the top level fled on foot, police say.
The girls injured and the man who fired the initial shots on the top level did not know each other, police say.
If you have any information about the incident, please JSO at 904-630-0500.
The same hotel gave guests in one of the buildings an order to vacate Tuesday within 24 hours or face arrest, prosecution and fines.
The order came after a recent inspection. According to city documents, inspectors found a list of issues including; damage and deterioration that risk collapse, fire and windstorm hazards, structural parts that are overloaded and in danger of failing, and multiple property safety and maintenance code violations.
The hotel gave First Coast News this statement Wednesday afternoon:
"We did a follow-up inspection yesterday afternoon to verify that all the occupants vacated the units in building #1. Our staff was told by the property manager that most of the occupants were relocated to the other building on the property. As of today, the Social Services Division has been in contact with six families. Only three of these families were relocated in the other building on the property."