Three people, including a three-year-old child, died in a shooting incident at an apartment complex in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, September 24, 2023.
Officials have linked the incident to a disagreement involving the sale of a dog. Police were called to an apartment in the 8800 block of A.C. Skinner Parkway in Jacksonville around 10:00 p.m. following reports of gunfire.
Assistant Chief J.D. Stronko, in a subsequent news conference, detailed that five individuals had visited the apartment, possibly to sell a dog. A disagreement emerged during their stay, resulting in four of the five being shot. Tragically, three of them, including the young child, did not survive.
While one adult victim’s identity remains undisclosed, the other two were said to be in their 20s. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing two men leaving the area, potentially in a black sedan. Their identities and involvement are currently under investigation.
Local media identified the young victim as Kae’lynn Marie Matthews. The child’s grandmother shared with the media that Matthews, who didn’t live at the apartment complex, was fond of school and enjoyed playing hide and seek.
A resident of the apartment complex, Rachel, recounted to a news outlet the disturbing sounds of gunshots followed by screams. She conveyed her shock, noting that even though Jacksonville sometimes sees such incidents, it’s always alarming when it happens nearby. She concluded, “My thoughts are with the families.”