After teens shot outside The Jacksonville Landing, police advise parents to monitor their kids

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is interviewing about 30 witnesses and they said several other people are detained after two teenage boys were shot near The Jacksonville Landing on Monday afternoon.

One of the boys died, JSO said early Tuesday morning.

Police still stand behind their word when they said the downtown area is one of the safest parts in this city.

And with several surveillance cameras in the area at businesses and on poles, it could help police possibly see who fired the shots.

"This sort of thing is hard to predict. You don't know what's going to happen," Action News Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said.

Several shots were fired and front doors were shattered as two off-duty officers were working at The Landing.
Xavier Pierre said he was at The Landing during the shooting and security measures were immediately put in place.

“The whole Landing was put on lockdown, nobody in or out,” Pierre said.

The officers working security were hired by The Landing, and JSO Assistant Chief Scott Dingee said it was well staffed.

Jefferson said there was no reason to have added security.

"Never did they expect to have beefed-up security for any reason because there were no threats or foreseen threats," Jefferson said.

And he said people shouldn’t point blame at security for the double shooting.

"We can't pinpoint it on security. What we need to do is put the blame where the blame belongs; these are people who are carrying guns," Jefferson said.

Dingee’s message to parents is for them to monitor their kids, and Jefferson said they should also be with them.

"They should be monitored, they should have guardians with them or an adult who is responsible for their actions," Jefferson said.

Dingee said they are also going to look at the surveillance cameras to see if any fights broke out inside The Landing before the shooting happened right outside the doors.

And JSO is going to reassess downtown safety measures.

Cox Media Group