Man killed overnight in Calloway Cove; 4th died there this week

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police said a man in his mid-twenties was shot dead in Calloway Cove apartments at 11pm Friday night; it’s the same Moncrief Road complex where the Jacksonville sheriff’s office found three people shot and killed four days ago.

There were no witnesses to the deadly shootings on Friday night and police have not released many details.

News4Jax tried to talk to area residents about crime in the resort and one said he doesn’t think the police are the right answer, but is nervous about the number of shots fired at the apartments.

Another said more lighting is needed in the complex to see who comes and goes.

After the encounter of two men and a woman shot in a unit of the complex in the early hours of the morning, police arrested four teenagers whom officers chased after fleeing the scene.

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Police said the gang unit heard gunshots on Tuesday and saw the car take off. The driver of the stolen vehicle, a 14-year-old girl, drove authorities into a nearly three-mile chase that ended when an officer struck his car in a PIT maneuver. Inside the car were three weapons, according to police.

Keon Lester, 18, along with two 17-year-olds and a 14-year-old are charged with murder and criminal conspiracy to commit a robbery. The State Attorney’s Office is expected to prosecute all suspects as adults.

Police referred to the apartment where two 30-year-olds and a 27-year-old were found dead as a “drug lair” where they found more than 100 oxycodone pills, a large ball of a substance white powder and a lot of money.

The area has been battling violent crime for years. Six years ago, the council said 4229 Moncrief Road is one of the most important places in the city where you are likely to be the victim of a violent crime.

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“It’s sad because right now it’s just a situation of not winning,” a man told News4Jax who was not surprised by the violence. “Why not put a police substation in there?”

The man said the age of the people involved in these crimes has a lot to do with their influence.

“In my opinion, this comes from the home family, because now everyone is a follower,” the man said.

News4Jax security and crime specialist Ken Jefferson, who grew up in Calloway Cove apartments, said crimes like these have been and will continue to be there unless city leaders speak up.

“There are crimes throughout Duval County, but in this particular area it seems to resonate over the years,” Jefferson said. “For 30 years it has been plagued by violence. Therefore, until the city leaders get in touch with the sheriff’s office, get in touch with the community and get everyone involved, it will continue. ”

Jefferson said the ages don’t surprise him because he said the crime doesn’t discriminate, but more can be done to eliminate the problem in the apartments.

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“Four dead people: what is there to find out? You found drugs, you found a lot of money, you found weapons in a car that fled the place. What is there to find out? There is nothing more to find out than to go to work, ”said Jefferson.

News4Jax contacted City Council member representing the Calloway Cove district as well as the complex owner. We have no news yet.

The five homicides this week in Jacksonville have been at ZIP Code 32209 – all four in Calloway Cove and one on Iris Boulevard, just three blocks away.