JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A community is demanding answers after a 13-year-old boy was killed on his way home from football tryouts.
A family friend has confirmed the child’s name as Prince Holland.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the drive-by shooting happened Saturday night at New Kings Road. and West Moncrief Road, killing the 13-year-old and injuring two others.
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Action News Jax spoke with Angel on Monday, who has known the family for years.
“You took one of the biggest, most prized possessions to a mother and that’s her child.”
She is urging anyone with information to do the right thing and come forward, asking the community to put themselves in the family’s shoes.
“What if it was your son? What if it was your brother? What if it was you? It could have been anybody but instead it was an innocent 13-year-old kid.”
JSO said four boys and a man believed to be their coach were all coming back from football tryouts at the Legends Center and Gymnasium when the SUV they were in was hit by gunfire.
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The bullets struck Holland, the adult driver and an 11-year-old.
The teen died, the coach was left in critical condition and the 11-year-old is expected to be OK.
The two others in the car were unharmed.
Davis Johnson lives nearby where JSO says the shooting happened.
“It could’ve been my grandkid,” Johnson said.
Johnson is calling on the violence to come to an end.
“I hope they catch them,” Johnson said. “I really do.”
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Angel said even if you can give a description of the car or any piece of information, to speak up.
“He was a really good kid,” she said. “He was coming home from football tryouts, which is something that he loves to do. He loves to play football.”
JSO reported that people at the scene were able to provide a detailed description of the possible suspects.
It is unknown if the shooting was targeted or random. No gun was found at the scene, with only numerous shell casings remaining.
“This is an innocent child,” Angel said. “An innocent little boy who had nothing to do with anything and yet you shoot into a car because of whatever. Whatever the situation is, it doesn’t even matter. You killed a child. How do you even live with yourself?
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If anyone has any information, please contact JSO through the nonemergency number (904) 630-0500 or if you would like to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
The award is currently up to $9,000.
“Please, please, please, please say something. Don’t be quiet, because it’s gonna keep happening. Next time it could happen to your kid, or your friend’s kid, or your niece, or your nephew, or your sister or your brother. It could happen to anybody. It could happen to you.”
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