JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One person is dead and two others are wounded after a home invasion robbery that ended in a triple shooting at The District on Kernan, an apartment complex that houses mostly college students.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, deputies were called out to the complex around 8:40 a.m. and found one person dead inside one of the apartments toward the back of the community.
A short time later, they were called to help a second victim, who was at the 121 Financial Credit Union on Kernan near Beach Boulevard. A third gunshot victim drove himself to UF Health.
All three are believed to have been shot inside The District.
On Monday night, JSO Public Information Officer Melissa Bujeda identified the person who died as 25-year-old Bryant Jerald Collier, one of two suspects. The victim of the the home invasion, as well as the second suspect, are being treated at local hospitals. The investigation is still active and ongoing.
Most of Monday, crime scene tape surrounded at least one building while the K-9 unit worked to find clues.
"From our understanding they were inside the residence, or at least close enough to the residence to be shot," said Sgt. Michael Paul.
Managers at The District posted on their Facebook page earlier Monday, "We want to let you know that a shooting has occurred on property as part of an attempted robbery in which one individual was killed. The incident involved non-residents."
Matthew Drysdale, who lives at The District, said he was not surprised to learn of the shooting.
"I had a friend, she moved out because someone put a gun to her head here," said Drysdale.
JSO tweeted from its official account just before 9 p.m. that "all parties involved are accounted for" and also answered a follow up question from WOKV's Stephanie Brown and confirmed that this also means that there is no suspect outstanding.
https://twitter.com/JSOPIO/status/600465027418726400
Husseyin Ozdes had just left on a shuttle to get to class when his phone went off.
"When I got to the shuttle then there was this text, that there is something happening and we are supposed to stay in your apartments and stuff," said Ozdes.
The District on Kernan alerted dozens of its residents about the shooting, asking them to stay indoors until they got an all-clear.
It's not the first time The District has made headlines. In July of last year, there was an attempted carjacking in the complex.
Drysdale said he'd like to see the gated entry strictly enforced.
"I think there should be a police officer here every night, to be honest," said Drysdale.
The District on Kernan's public relations representative, Mark Evans, sent Action News this statement:
"We are cooperating fully with the police as they investigate the incident, which involved non-residents. We also have notified our residents of the situation and urged them to take the appropriate precautions while this matter is under investigation. The well-being of our residents is of utmost concern to us, and we are focused on them during this difficult time. Any questions regarding the investigation should be directed to law enforcement authorities.
"The District does have a text alert system, and a message was sent to residents this morning as soon as management became aware that police were still looking for a suspect. In addition, management distributed a statement to all residents about the incident. That statement also was posted to the property's social media channels."