Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Families Of Teen Shooting Victims Plead For Information

WJCT
Cyd Hoskinson

In the early morning hours of Saturday, August 10th, 30 rounds were fired into a Missouri Avenue mobile home, killing 13-year-old Jazmine Shelton and fatally wounding 14-year-old Megan Simmons. Simmons was taken off life support Wednesday night.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, there were probably two shooters, and maybe more. But detectives say that’s mostly conjecture since they’ve run out of leads in the case.

Like the police, Jazmine Shelton’s grandmother, Brenda Starling, says she’s sure there are people who know something about her granddaughter's death.

During a news conference at JSO headquarters, Starling appealed to them to do the right thing.

“These children did not deserve to die this way. They deserve life. They had so much ahead of them," she pleaded, through tears.  

"Please. Please come forward. Please, if anyone knows anything, please come forward and tell.  Please. For the children.”

The Jacksonville Justice Coalition is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest, Crime Stoppers has put up $4,000, and the city's gun bounty program will pay $1,000 if the gun used is found.

Cyd Hoskinson began working at WJCT on Valentine’s Day 2011.