Palatka, Florida – Communities in North Palatka are fed up with increased violence after two men in their early 20s were injured in a shooting late Wednesday night.
The shooting occurred around 11 p.m. at the intersection of Washington and 17th streets, and neighbors described the shootout as a battlefield.
The Palatka Police Department said the men, aged 21 and 22, were taken to hospital but their injuries were not life-threatening. One man was grazed in the head and another was shot in the chest.
they were taken to the hospital.
Both men told police they did not know who shot them or why they were targeted.
It is unclear what led to the shooting.
Two mothers said they were inside the house with their children when the gunshots happened.
“I told my son to step back and be still,” said one woman.
Another woman said there were at least 15 to 25 shots fired between guns of different calibres.
One woman said she hid in a hallway with her children because gunshots were close, then moved to the bathroom.
Neighbors said gun violence was on the rise in the area and they were worried about the children living in the area.
“Sad. We can’t let the kids out. We can’t let the dogs out. We can’t trust it here anymore,” the woman said.
Neighbors also said there were few police in the neighborhood, despite signs posted about police substations in the area. They expressed dissatisfaction with the police response to increasing gun violence.
“I hope the police do something. They’re here. They know who these people are. They know what they’re doing,” said one woman. Told.
No suspects have been identified in the shooting.
WJXT News4JAX Copyright 2023 – All rights reserved.
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/07/14/palatka-community-says-gun-violence-has-become-out-of-control-after-late-night-shooting-leaves-2-injured/ Palatka community says two injured in late-night shooting, gun violence out of control