JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The school whose team was playing football near where a shooting broke out on the Westside on Friday night has cancelled the rest of its season.
The announcement came in an Instagram post by someone at Young Kids in Motion Academy, whose team was playing Joshua Christian Academy when gunshot erupted outside.
The game was the team’s regular-season opener. It had seven games to go in its season.
“This decision was not made lightly,” the post Saturday afternoon read. “The safety and well-being of our student-athletes come before any game, trophy or season.”
Police said a 19-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man were injured about 9 p.m. during the game at the Bob Hayes Sports Complex on Soutel Drive.
Both victims were listed in stable condition Saturday morning, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office news release. JSO said it’s looking for two male assailants who are in their late teens to early 20s
The gunfire broke out after a dispute between two groups of individuals, the news release stated. Spectators escorted one group of individuals out of the area after the dispute began to escalate, while the second group remained at the location, the news release stated.
A short time later, the first group returned and gunfire erupted, JSO said. The victims were taken to the hospital. The woman was shot in the leg. The man was shot in the shoulder.
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While the children focused on touchdowns and cheer routines, the adults in attendance viewed the gathering as an event to keep the kids focused on positive things.
Wanita Washington, whose daughter coaches the cheer team and whose grandson plays football, issued an impassioned plea to the broader community to address systemic safety issues.
“It’s really sad, we have to stop the violence now,” Washington said. “It’s too much going on. We got kids—think about the kids now. I feel like right now it’s time for everybody to come together for the kids and stop the violence, stop the shooting and stuff, put the guns down.”
Washington emphasized that structured athletic programs provide a necessary alternative to the dangers facing unsupervised youth.
“I really think it’s very important due to the fact of giving the kids something to do other than just running the streets or getting into trouble,” Washington added. “So I feel like this is a good thing for the kids to have something to do. They need to have more stuff for the kids.”
The sentiment was echoed to another parent.
“My son is actually up here, he’s doing 6U, he’s gonna be playing football today,” said local father Eddy Campbell, who prepared for a full day of fun football. “We got a couple games today playing football all day, getting these boys started.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500, or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS, or leave an online tip at JSOCrimetips@Jaxsheriff.org.
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