Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams is asking for help identifying the Sunday night shooter of 7-year-old Tashawn Gallon.
Williams said Monday afternoon Tashawn was with people who were drinking and smoking pot outside a house on Mount Herman Street in Durkeeville when an SUV drove up and someone in the car opened fire.
Williams said one of the people in the yard has admitted to shooting back at the car.
“We believe that multiple people were firing from multiple directions in this incident and then, based on the evidence at the scene, we believe that Tashawn was between the two parties that were shooting at each other,” said Williams.
The sheriff said the group outside the house included several convicted felons. One person was a drug dealer, and at least one person is affiliated with a gang.
“There is someone on the street today that is responsible for the shooting death of a 7-year-old little boy and I promise you that we are going to move heaven and earth, and kick in a few doors, until we bring that person to justice.”
First Coast Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. You can submit tips anonymously at this web tips link or call 866-845-TIPS (8477).
Tashawn Gallon was the fifth child shot in Jacksonville in less than two weeks. The other children survived.
Mayor Lenny Curry released the following statement about the shooting on Twitter:
Last night a 7 yr old was killed in a drive by shooting in our city. We must come together as a community and stop this senseless violence to give our kids a sense of hope and peace.
This happened Less than 2 miles from City Hall, Within 2 miles of our government and churches and schools and FSCJ and fire houses and sheriff substations, all institutions designed to help keep a community safe and allow kids the security to grow and learn how to make choices
And follow dreams. In the shadow of all that opportunity and assistance, a 7 yr old had life stolen by someone so hopeless and directionless that they didn't hesitate to recklessly turn our streets into a war zone.We have to break through to these young people.
We have to find a way to make them recognize there is so much more for them than they can imagine, if they choose to believe in hope and peace.
Contact reporter Cyd Hoskinson at choskinson@wjct.org, 904-358-6351 and on Twitter @cydwjctnews.
