One person was killed and two others injured Sunday after a night of St. Patrick's Day celebrations ended in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, police said.
Police say they are continuing to search for multiple possible gunmen in a violent incident in the downtown Jacksonville Beach nightlife district, which is crowded with holiday celebrations and spring breakers. , said Sergeant John Johnson, a city police spokesperson. Tonya Tater spoke at a makeshift news conference.
Mayor Christine Hoffman said the violence may have been the result of a separate incident, but the root of it remains a matter of active investigation.
“There were several different incidents that may not be related,” she said at a separate news conference. “So we want to know as much as we can.”
Tater said the injured person was stable at a medical facility. Information about the two people and the age and gender of the deceased have not been obtained.
The violence was initially described as an active shooter incident, but there appear to be no subsequent reports of shots fired.
Many of the patrons that night were in bars and restaurants, but the violence occurred “outside,” Tater said.
Jacksonville's NBC affiliate WJXT reported that authorities shut down the nightlife district that night as police continued to investigate. Tater said the city's beaches were also closed following the violence.
City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Division Said on social media platform X The shelter-in-place order for people in the area was lifted shortly before 11 p.m.
