On March 17, 2024, James Jones III, a 21-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, was tragically shot and killed in one of three shootings that occurred in Jacksonville Beach. The incidents took place on St. Patrick’s Day, coinciding with Spring Break and the end of The Players Championship in nearby Ponte Vedra Beach.
Jones was fatally shot in the parking lot of Sneaker’s Sports Bar and Grill, located at the corner of 1st Street North and Beach Boulevard.
His death was part of a series of violent events that night, which included two other shootings. The first shooting occurred at 7:50 PM south of the Jacksonville Beach Pier, and the second happened about 20 minutes later, a half block north on 3rd Avenue.
The violence began with a large gathering of 250-400 teenagers and young adults under the pier, which escalated into fights. Police broke up the crowd, but the first shooting occurred as the crowd separated, resulting in two young men wounding each other and also hitting an out-of-town bystander. Jones, however, was not associated with this group; his family described him as a responsible individual who followed instructions and was not constantly in trouble.
Jones was a father to a three-month-old baby girl and was studying to become a merchant mariner. He had graduated from Oakleaf High School in 2021 and played football there. His family remembered him as a passionate father, a leader to his younger siblings, and a valuable member of their family.
The community and Jones's family are still reeling from the loss. His mother, Katrina Williams, expressed her deep grief, stating, "I'm broken," and "I'm scarred for life over something so senseless." The family and residents of Jacksonville Beach are calling for increased security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
As of now, police have not made any arrests and are still looking for more than one suspected shooter, in addition to the two shooters who were wounded during the incidents. The community is urging anyone with information to come forward and contact the police or Crimestoppers to help bring justice to Jones's family.
