Four individuals suffered gunshot wounds early Sunday morning outside the Paxon Shopping Center, with the assailant still evading capture as of Monday.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The search continued Monday for a suspect involved in a shooting incident at a Westside shopping center in Jacksonville, where four people were wounded and subsequently hospitalized after an altercation escalated into gunfire early Sunday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported that officers responded to the scene at the Paxon Shopping Center shortly after 12:30 a.m. The disturbance reportedly began with a dispute inside a bar, which then erupted into a shooting in the parking lot.
Speaking to First Coast News on Monday, Josie Sakoo, the manager of Paxon Liquors and Lounge, expressed her ongoing distress over the incident that unfolded outside her establishment.
“We feel helpless, sometimes, literally as far as the management and ownership. We just don’t know what else to do. What’s the next step to make it better,” she remarked.
Authorities detailed that the victims, four men ranging in age from 44 to 57, were injured in the shooting. Three of them were taken to the hospital by emergency services, while the fourth sought medical attention independently. Fortunately, all are expected to recover fully.
Sakoo said the violence has deeply impacted her, her staff, and the surrounding community.
“We love everybody in this neighborhood, we are part of you. We are hurt also. We don’t wanna see anybody get hurt,” said Sakoo.
Sakoo said the shooting also damaged the business and injured one of her employees.
“The shooting happened outside. They hit the glass and glass shattered, and a bullet went through and hit our security while he was inside walking toward the back.”
Investigators described the suspect as a Black man wearing all dark clothing who ran from the scene on foot.
In past reporting, First Coast News analyzed Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office data that showed officers have been called to the Paxon Shopping Center more than 100 times since the start of 2025 — raising ongoing concerns about safety in the area.
Sakoo said she hopes police are able to find whoever is responsible.
