JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The new year in Jacksonville began with tragedy. A 14-year-old boy was shot and killed on New Years Day in the city's Northwest Side.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a shooting around 6 p.m. on Castle Blvd. They found a 14-year-old boy who had been shot inside a home. Officers performed CPR before the victim was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.
Allyson Rouse lives near the scene. She said she heard gunshots and a woman scream.
“I heard four quick gunshots. They didn’t sound like fireworks, they were not fireworks. It ended up being something terrible three doors down from where I live. And then after that, I heard this unearthly scream," Rouse explained.
This marks the first homicide of 2024; however, 2023 also ended in tragedy. A 16-year-old was shot and killed in Mandarin just days before on Dec. 30.
Donald Foy, the President of the Jacksonville chapter of MAD DADS (Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social-disorder), said he is heartbroken for the families of these victims.
“I just thought about the family of the 14-year-old and burying their 14-year-old son, and my heart went out to them," Foy said.
According to data from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, there were roughly 138 homicides in 2023. Foy said too many kids are included in those statistics. He wants to see people in the community speak up for their children and stop the violence.
"We can put a police officer on every corner, we've hired more police every year. It doesn't stop. Only somebody that can stop it is the community, that knows who did it and they call Crime Stoppers and tell what they know," Foy explained.
Anyone with information is urged to call JSO at (904)-630-0500 or email at JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward, call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.