Jacksonville police questioning neighbor after woman accidentally shot

Jan 31, 2024

Jacksonville police say a neighbor told officers while he was cleaning a gun it accidentally discharged and the bullet killed a woman inside her home nearby Sunday afternoon.

The victim's child was present in the home but wasn't injured when the shooting happened about 1:30 p.m. in the 4000 block of Jeb Stuart Lane off Westconnett Boulevard on the Westside, said Sgt. Edwin Cayenne of the Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit.

The woman died at the scene after the bullet struck her in the head, police said.

"After securing that crime scene, officers were approached by a neighbor advising that while cleaning their firearm inside of their residence when a round accidentally discharged," Cayenne told news media at the scene.

The neighbor is cooperating with investigators and was taken downtown to Sheriff's Office headquarters to be interviewed, he said.

"At this early stage of our investigation, this appears to be a tragic accident with the most unfortunate of outcomes," Cayenne said.

Cayenne said the neighbor — who lived nearby — was approximately 40-to 50-yards away from the victim's home when the shooting happened.

He said the victim was in the front room of her home when she was shot. The child initially thought the shooting was the thunder and lightning from the storms that were occurring at the time. The youngster then called Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Cayenne said.

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A State Attorney's Office investigator also was at the scene with Sheriff's Office detectives, Cayenne said.

Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Office at (904) 630-0500 or leave an anonymous tip and be eligible for a possible reward by calling First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-8477 (TIPS).