JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office believes the man who fired a handgun at two officers was a member of Westside gang.
Police say John Parker, 23, fired his handgun four times at officers after a traffic stop in Arlington. Parker was killed when officers retuned fire. Neither officer was injured.
JSO Chief Tom Hackney said, "Parker has a history of robbery convictions, drugs and theft charges. He is also a certified 103rd Street Gang member."
Donald Foy, local chapter president of the Mad Dads organization, told Action News Jacksonville has a serious gang problem, "It lets you know once again this is a very, very dangerous group."
Fear's been growing in Jacksonville's Westside neighborhood since Tuesday's police shootout with a member of the 103rd Street Gang.
Sharika Long, a mother of three who lives on 103rd Street told Action News, "I wouldn't feel safe letting my kids outside the house now."
JSO spokesperson Officer Melissa Bujeda said the Sheriff's gang unit operates undercover.
"The specifics in terms of intelligence with gangs is not something we want to get into because of the investigative factor. It's very tight to the chest."
Florida state law allows police to identify someone as a gang member if they meet two of the following criteria: Adopting use of a gang hand sign, wearing a gang tattoo or style of dress, associating with known gang members or being identified as one by a reliable informant.
Bujeda told Action News, "When they are charged with a robbery or a theft or some type of criminal act, that allows the statute to be bumped up. So if it's a felony of the first degree, it becomes a felony of the second degree because of the gang affiliation."
