As part of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office “Wanted Wednesday” feature, security camera images were released of a man suspected in the Jan. 18 shooting outside the St. Johns Town Center McDonald’s.
The man’s initial approach to the victims’ vehicle was caught on video, the Sheriff’s Office posted March 25.
The shooting happened sometime after 11 p.m. in the parking lot of the 4587 Town Center Parkway fast-food restaurant. Just before midnight, officers were notified of a walk-in gunshot victim at a hospital. He said someone opened fire on the vehicle he was in after leaving the drive-thru. He was struck in a leg.
The incident report lists the victim as 18 and four male friends 17 to 20 years old were with him in the car. They all had similar accounts that the shooter was dressed in all black and appeared behind some bushes while they were trying to place an order in the drive-thru.
One said he felt like the employee taking the order was irritated with them. He then heard a door open and shut and saw the male standing there. He said they got freaked out and started to drive away when the front-seat passenger was shot.
Another said the male was staring at them, so they started to call out to him and without warning he started shooting. The driver said he heard about eight shots from the man in the bushes. He said the group never spoke with him and doesn’t know why anyone would want to shoot at them.
Anyone with information in the case can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards at First Coast Crime Stoppers, call (866) 845-8477 (845-TIPS), text **8477 or email rewards@fccrimestoppers.com. Crime Stoppers recently increased its base reward to $5,000.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Images released of man wanted in McDonald’s shooting at Town Center
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
