JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Many people will be seeking shelter over the next few days because of the cold, including at the Sulzbacher Center where the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting.
Officers said the suspect simply walked up to the victim, shot him on the outside patio, and then ran off.
The suspect is still on the loose.
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This is a major concern for people who come to the Sulzbacher Center daily and those who live there. Many more people are expected to flood these overnight shelters as we get closer to some of the coldest nights this winter.
One man who asked to remain anonymous said he has been living at the homeless center for months. He thinks the shooting was bound to happen because he claims there are no safety precautions implemented on the premises.
“I’m trying to get up out of here because I’ve been here for seven months, and there’s been so much going on here. It’s ridiculous man.”
He said there are no metal detectors and residents are not patted down for weapons when they come inside.
“People have knives in there and other weapons. The staff doesn’t check for that stuff.”
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Officers said it looks like the suspect and victim from Sunday afternoon’s shooting knew each other.
Action News Jax Shanila Kabir reached out to the Sulzbacher Center and asked them about their security measures and how they ensure a gun does not get on property. They did not respond to the specific questions but released a general statement saying in part:
“The incident that happened today is extremely distressing and has never happened before. We will continue to cooperate closely with JSO to find out why this happened and ways that we can prevent anything like this from happening again.”
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The anonymous resident adds the staff has been beyond helpful; however, they should buckle down on safety as more people seek cold shelter.
“The staff need to start putting down more rules and checking people. We need to get gun monitors and check people for weapons and knives.”
We also asked the center for more information on the victim and whether he was a resident.
If anyone has any information on the shooting or the suspect, you are encouraged to call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
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