The Eyrie

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Gunfire outside a large house party on Jacksonville’s Westside left a 20-year-old man dead and nine other people injured early Sunday, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Police said officers were called to the area near Wilcox and 5th streets around 3:50 a.m. after reports that several people had been shot. When responders arrived, they found the young man wounded at the scene. He later died at a hospital.

Nine others were taken to local hospitals with gunshot wounds, including a 15-year-old girl. Investigators say the shooting erupted as the gathering spilled out into the street and chaos followed.

Police say the party drew a crowd before shots rang out twice

Investigators believe the event began as a house party on 5th Street that attracted roughly 100 to 200 people. At some point, the crowd moved outside and into the surrounding area, where the violence unfolded.

Jacksonville police said they heard accounts of two bursts of gunfire in close succession. Most of the victims are believed to have been hit during the second round, though investigators have not yet said exactly how the confrontation started or what led to the shooting.

Officials have not identified the party host or said whether the property was being used with permission for the event. They also have not said what kind of weapons were involved.

Victims ranged from a teenager to adults in their twenties

Among the wounded was a 15-year-old girl, who police said was in stable condition. The other eight injured victims were between 20 and 25 years old.

That group included six women and two men. Police said one of the women was in life-threatening condition when she was taken for treatment, while the others were listed as stable.

The sheriff’s office has not released the names of the victims. Officials also have not said whether the man who died was among the people standing outside when shots were fired or whether he had any connection to the party itself.

Investigators have not said how many shooters may have been involved

Detectives are still trying to determine how many people fired shots during the incident. Police said that detail remains unclear, and no suspects were in custody by Sunday.

Because the scene involved a large crowd, investigators are looking for help from witnesses who may have seen where the shots came from or who was involved. Police asked people with cellphone video or other information to come forward.

The sheriff’s office said tips can be shared by phone at 904-630-0500. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers.

The shooting adds to a violent start to the morning on Jacksonville’s Westside

The gunfire broke out before dawn near a residential stretch of Jacksonville’s Westside, a part of the city where late-night gatherings can quickly spill into nearby streets and parking areas. In this case, officers were met with multiple victims spread between the scene and area hospitals.

The scale of the violence — one death and nine injuries — made it one of the more serious overnight incidents police were responding to in the area. Officials have not said whether there had been prior disturbances at the party before the shooting began.

For now, investigators are focused on reconstructing the minutes before and after the shots were fired, including where people were standing and how the crowd moved once the shooting started.

Police are asking anyone with video or eyewitness details to help the case

Authorities say the investigation is still in its early stages and that the most useful leads may come from people who were at the party or nearby when the shots were fired. Cellphone recordings, social media clips and firsthand accounts could help identify those involved.

Detectives are also trying to piece together whether the two bursts of gunfire came from one person or several. That answer could shape how the case moves forward, but police have not said when they expect to have more details.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office or provide an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.