Jacksonville, Florida: Two Killed and 11 Injured in Shootings at Two Halloween Parties

Two people were killed and 11 others were injured in two separate shootings at Halloween parties in Jacksonville, Florida, early Sunday, November 1, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said. A 17 year old girl died in the first shooting and a 20 year old man died in the second, about two hours later. Police said the two shootings were unrelated, and no arrests had been reported in either case as of noon on Sunday.

The Arlington Expressway shooting

The first shooting was reported about 1:42 a.m. in the 6200 block of Arlington Expressway, in the Regency area. Commander Jacob Vorpahl of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said people were waiting in line to get into a Halloween party when a fight broke out among people waiting to enter, and gunfire followed.

Officers found the 17 year old girl dead at the scene. Vorpahl said all three people shot in that incident were unintended targets who were not involved in the dispute. A second victim was taken to a hospital by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue crews and was in stable condition, and a third person went to a hospital on their own. Police said the surviving victims in that shooting are expected to recover.

Investigators said they are searching for at least two young men who were wearing black clothing. No further suspect description was released for that shooting.

The West 5th Street shooting

About 3:45 a.m., officers were called to a house on West 5th Street, near Wilcox Street, where a party of 100 to 200 people was underway and had extended into the street. Officers found a 20 year old man who had been shot. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Nine other people, with ages from 15 to 25, went to hospitals on their own with gunshot injuries, bringing the number of people shot at that house to 10. One of the injured had life threatening injuries, and a 15 year old girl was among the wounded. Investigators said a fight at the house party led to two rounds of gunfire. The Sheriff's Office said it has no suspect information for that shooting.

What officials said

Sheriff T. K. Waters condemned the shootings and described them as senseless acts, the Florida Times Union reported. Mayor Donna Deegan also issued a statement on the violence, according to the Times Union account, which was updated with statements from both officials on Sunday.

Police have not released the names of the two people who died or the names of the surviving victims. Anyone with information about either shooting can contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or by email at JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. Tips can also be given anonymously to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 866-845-8477.

The two scenes were in different parts of Jacksonville, one on the east side and one on the west side.