JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In the last 24 hours, five people were shot in Jacksonville, including two minors.
On Tuesday morning, a man was shot and killed near a bus stop while he was trying to get to work.
All the shootings have one thing in common: their location.
These shootings are happening in Northwest Jacksonville, an area where the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced it was going to step up patrols under Operation Ceasefire.
That initiative was announced in May, but many people who live in the area say they want to see more done to keep them safe. On Monday night, a 16-year-old girl was shot in the foot while walking down the road with her boyfriend.
This is the reality for many people who live in the northwest corner of Jacksonville. Monday night, the crime hit close to home for Meltonia Wright.
"I was actually standing on the football field and we heard the gunfire, probably like four -- it's like pow pow pow pow, like that," said Wright, Scott Park Athletics president.
JSO said a 16-year-old girl was shot in the foot on Cleveland Road. Wright and her husband, Nathaniel, who run an athletics program at Scott Park, say the teen ran through the field looking for help.
Three other people, including a minor, were shot near Grand Park Monday, sending children on the practice fields running for cover.
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Nathaniel Wright said even though the shooting didn't happen inside his park, he said many parents are now scared to bring their children to practice.
"Whatever happens in the community affects all Pop Warner parks around here," he said.
Action News checked JSO's crime mapping. Just in the last year, there have been 525 reported aggravated assaults and homicides in the northwest side.
However, Nathaniel Wright said it all shouldn't fall on JSO's shoulders.
"An idle mind is a devil's workshop. If we don't get kids involved in stuff, then these kids are going to get out there in the streets," Wright said.
Many people Action News spoke to want to see more police presence. That's exactly what Operation Ceasefire aims to do. Despite that effort, many people on the northwest side just don't feel safe.
"I'm hoping someone will step up and help us to resolve this problem over here," said Gwen Nmezi.
Nmezi found out her tenant, who is also her friend, was shot and killed while trying to get to work.
Police say Gary Leon Bell, 62, was killed on Moncrief Road after being robbed.
"I never would've thought that anybody would do this to Gary, because he doesn't bother anybody," Nmezi said.
The crime capped a five hour wave of violence, after the 16-year-old girl and the three people in Grand Park were shot.
So far, there have been no arrests in the most recent shootings. Nmezi said she has faith justice will be served.
"If the law don't get him, God will, whoever did this," Nmezi said.
Action News asked JSO about how many arrests they've made since they launched Operation Ceasefire and the office said it's working on that request.
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