JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Residents of a typically peaceful local apartment complex are in shock after an early Sunday morning shooting left multiple buildings with police tape.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) responded to reports of a person shot at the Townsend Apartments complex. Neighbors woke up to a heavy police presence and crime scene tape wrapping around multiple buildings on the property.
Devynn Yarbrough, a resident who recently moved into the complex, recalled the moment the peace was shattered.
“This morning it was just one loud boom. It was not multiple shots,” Yarbrough said.
Yarbrough, who has a two-year-old child, initially did not realize the sound was gunfire until she checked a neighborhood safety application.
“I seen on the Ring thing that someone got shot out here. So, I’m like, I just moved out here right in front of my apartment... It’s kind of scary,” she added.
Other residents reported signs of trouble hours before the shooting took place. One neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, stated they heard people arguing around 1:00 a.m. However, the lone gunshot was not heard until roughly 7:00 a.m.
The subsequent emergency response woke other neighbors, including Imani Mills, who described being startled by a police helicopter hovering directly above.
“Seeing it this close to my house and hearing it like there... it sounds like it’s almost over the house, so that can be a little concerning. And then you come out, and you see all these police and tape,” Mills said.
For those living in the complex, the violent outbreak stands in stark contrast to their everyday experience in the neighborhood.
“It’s actually usually pretty calm over here. Nothing really going on, nobody bothering nobody, everybody’s pretty friendly,” Mills noted.
Yarbrough echoed those sentiments, expressing shock that such an event could happen so close to her front door. “It’s been quiet. It’s been no issues... So I didn’t think that that could happen out here, but I guess it can happen anywhere.”
JSO has not yet released information regarding the condition of the victim or any potential suspects.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.