JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A heated exchange between two men in Jacksonville’s Riverside neighborhood early Saturday morning escalated into a gunfight, resulting in both men needing medical attention, per the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

According to JSO Sgt. Richardson, officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of College Street following reports of a shooting involving the two men at approximately 2:08 a.m.

Upon their arrival, officers uncovered that the men, whose identities remain undisclosed, had engaged in a “verbal altercation.”

The situation intensified when, as Richardson explained, one man was seated in his car alongside his girlfriend and was confronted by the other man, who began firing several shots at him.

“In response, the man and his girlfriend defended themselves by shooting back, hitting the assailant multiple times,” Richardson stated.

The victim was reportedly shot in the shoulder, while the suspect was shot in the abdomen and foot. JSO did not say the victim’s girlfriend was injured.

The injuries the two men sustained are considered to be non-life-threatening, according to Richardson.

“Detectives responded to the scene, canvassed the area for video surveillance and spoke with witnesses,” Richardson added. “This appears to be an isolated incident where the victim and suspect were involved in a verbal altercation prior to the shooting.”

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call JSO’s non-emergency number at 904-630-0500. To provide information to the sheriff’s office anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.