The Eyrie

JACKSONVILLE, FL — A 17-year-old girl was killed and two other people were injured in an early Sunday shooting outside the Regency Inn on Arlington Expressway, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Police said officers were called to the area around 1:42 a.m. and found the teenager dead at the scene. Another victim had been shot and was taken to a hospital, where investigators said that person was in stable condition.

A third victim drove themselves to a local hospital. Authorities have not released an update on that person’s condition. Detectives believe the violence started after an argument among people waiting in line for a Halloween party turned into gunfire.

Police say the argument began among people waiting for the party

Investigators believe the dispute started outside the event venue before the shooting broke out. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the conflict escalated quickly and ended with an exchange of gunfire near the hotel on Arlington Expressway.

According to police, all three people who were hit appear to have been unintended targets. Detectives said the victims were not involved in the argument that led to the shooting.

The shooting happened several blocks east of Cesery Boulevard, an area where police responded to a large crowd during the early morning hours. The sheriff’s office has not said what first set off the argument or what words were exchanged before shots were fired.

At least two suspects are believed to have approached on foot

Police said investigators believe at least two suspects walked up to the area before the shooting. No one was in custody as of Sunday, and detectives were still working to determine the sequence of events.

Because the crowd was large and the shooting happened in a busy public setting, investigators are asking witnesses to come forward with firsthand accounts. They are also seeking cellphone video that could help clarify what happened outside the Regency Inn.

Police have not released descriptions of the suspects. They also have not said whether the suspects knew the people involved in the argument.

One victim died at the scene and another remained stable at hospital

The teenage girl was pronounced dead at the scene, making her the fatality in the shooting. The second victim was transported for medical care and was listed in stable condition, according to police.

The third person reached a hospital on their own, but authorities did not provide an immediate update on that person’s injuries. Jacksonville police have not identified any of the victims publicly.

Officials did say the victims appear to have been caught in the violence rather than targeted. That assessment is central to the early investigation, which is focused on how a line for a Halloween party turned into a deadly scene outside the hotel.

Investigators want video and eyewitness accounts from the crowd

With so many people present at the time of the shooting, detectives are relying on the public for additional evidence. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said anyone who saw the incident unfold should share what they know with investigators.

Officials are especially interested in cellphone video from the area. That kind of footage could help establish where the suspects came from, how the confrontation developed and when the gunfire began.

Witnesses can contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. Police are urging anyone with firsthand information to come forward as they continue the investigation.

Arlington shooting adds to concerns around crowded late-night events

The shooting took place during the early hours of Halloween weekend, when large gatherings can draw heavy crowds and create difficult conditions for police responding to emergencies. In this case, investigators said the size of the crowd complicated their efforts to piece together what happened.

The Regency Inn scene remained under investigation Sunday as detectives worked to separate the argument from the people who were struck by gunfire. Police have not said whether security was present at the party or whether any arrests might follow.

For now, the case centers on an argument that escalated outside a hotel event and left one teenager dead. Authorities say the next breakthrough may come from someone in the crowd who saw the confrontation from the start.