JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax Elizabeth Pace has new information at noon on CBS47.
Of two people who were shot on the 300 block of East Bay Street in Downtown Jacksonville Christmas night, one has died from their injuries according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
JSO said officers responded to a reported shooting just before midnight in the area of Downtown with several bars and restaurants. One victim was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries and another took themselves to the hospital.
A witness in the area told Action News Jax that the shooting happened inside Live Bar during a Christmas party. He said the bar was crowded with people who chaotically ran out of the bar as the shooting happened.
Action News Jax Alicia Tarancon obtained exclusive video from that witness that shows the chaotic moments following the shooting inside the crowded bar.
Warning: Graphic images and language. Viewer Discretion is advised.
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Action News Jax confirmed the man who was shot and killed at the bar is Johnny Johnson. His friends shared a picture of him with his mother.
“We apologize,” A LIVE Bar promoter said. “From the LIVE Bar family, we apologize to the families.”
Action News Jax spoke to the assistant manager of the bar and a bar promoter. They said they hire two off-duty officers from the Jacksonville’s Sheriff Office to be security at the bar every weekend. However, they said there was a slip up with JSO for the 2019 XMAS Bash.”
“It had to be a mix up because in our system we have them down to be here,” the assistant manager said. “But last night, somebody dropped the ball somewhere. So we’re going to have a meeting about that today.”
Because of the short staff, they said they have to double down on nightly pat-downs for guests.
“We usually do go two, you get touched twice. You get searched when you first come and then again,” He said. “Last night we went one search and we see what happened when we changed our system up. So now we have to change our system up totally.”
They said they will bring in metal detectors and additional security to keep guns out of the bar. They will reopen Friday, Dec. 27.
Action News Jax reached out to JSO to verify the manager’s report of their use of off-duty JSO officers for security, and have not gotten a response yet.
JSO does not have any suspect information as of Thursday morning, but they are looking for a yellow sports car that was reported by a caller as a vehicle of interest.
Anyone who has any information regarding the shooting should contact JSO at 904-630-0500 or go online to JSOCRIMETIPS@JAXSHERIFF.ORG. The Crime Stoppers Hotline can also be utilized by calling 866-845-TIPS.
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