JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Vietnamese Christian Church, a place of worship, became a crime scene around 3:30 on Sunday. A shootout between two cars traveling on Herlong left a bullet hole in the church's welcome sign. JSO tells Action News Jax kids were playing basketball in church's parking lot when the shooting began. The kids were not injured in the shooting.
JSO describes the vehicles involved as tan and silver. There were no further descriptions of the suspects or what they may have be driving. Police say a couple of vehicles driving by the shootout were hit. JSO tells us those drivers were unharmed and cooperated with investigators.
Robert Brown lives near church.
“That’s devastating. Hopefully nothing like that will happen again,” said Brown.
JSO isolated the crime scene with tape. Herlong Road was blocked off to traffic during the investigation. Brown asked officers what happened when he saw the unfolding scene on his way home.
"He said there was a shooting, a local shooting over here by the Vietnamese church,” said Brown.
Meanwhile investigators were searching for answers at Park West ER, where a man arrived with a non-fatal gunshot wound.
“The time I’ve been living around here I’ve never heard anything like this happen. This is my first time ever hearing of anything like this around here,” said Brown.
At the time of Sunday's briefing with police, investigators believed the man who arrived at Park West ER to be involved in the shooting.
This is a developing story, refresh this page for the latest and follow Ryan Nelson on Twitter for updates as soon as he gets them.
Police are inverstigating two cars, one silver, one tan, shooting at each other on 7600 Block of Herlong Rd. @JSOPIO says a bullet hit a nearby church and a couple of cars driving on the road. Church was not in session, those drivers are safe.@ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/8igU8Kz9Tv
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanANJax) July 1, 2018
.@JSOPIO investigating two cars, one tan, one silver, shooting at each other near the Vietnamese Christian Church on Herlong Rd. Services were not being held at the time of the shooting. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/FRlNjFQdth
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanANJax) July 1, 2018
The @JSOPIO Crime Map reveals more than 80 reports of violent crime within a mile of the 7600 block on Herlong Rd since January 2nd.
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanANJax) July 1, 2018
We're en route following reports of an aggravated battery. Details coming soon. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/TtfKrHzCUK
We're en route to the 7600 block of Herlong Rd following a reported aggravated battery. @JSOPIO briefing set for 6 PM.@ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanANJax) July 1, 2018
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