Police said a juvenile male suspect stayed at the scene and was taken into custody.
JACKSONVILLE, FL — A juvenile girl was shot in the chest late Friday near Benedict and Moncrief roads in Northwest Jacksonville, where police said a juvenile male suspect pulled a gun during a gathering and fired.
The girl was taken to a local hospital and was listed in stable condition with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The shooting brought patrol officers, detectives and crime scene units to an area where neighbors said children had been gathered near a local park.
Officers responded around 8 p.m. Friday to the 5600 block of Benedict Road after a report that someone had been shot. Police said they found the juvenile victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigators said the girl, the juvenile male suspect and several witnesses had been together near Benedict Road and Moncrief Road before the shooting. At some point, police said, the suspect removed a gun from his waistband, pointed it at the girl and fired. A neighbor who spoke to News4JAX said he heard one gunshot, then saw deputies and patrol cars quickly fill the area.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office did not release the names or official ages of the victim or suspect, citing their juvenile status. Neighbors told News4JAX the victim was 13 years old, but police had not publicly confirmed that detail by Saturday night. Officers searched the area after the shooting and recovered a firearm. Police said the suspect remained at the scene and was taken into custody. Action News Jax reported that a juvenile boy also remained at the scene and was detained. Police did not say Saturday whether formal charges had been filed, what charge the suspect could face or whether investigators believe the shooting was accidental or intentional.
The shooting happened in a Northwest Jacksonville corridor that includes homes, small neighborhood streets and park space near Moncrief Road. Neighbors described a sudden rush of emergency vehicles after a single shot. One neighbor said another resident heard the girl crying for help and came outside. The neighbor said he later saw detectives and officers in the area while paramedics worked near an ambulance. Police have not released body camera video, surveillance footage or a full incident report. They also have not said how the juvenile suspect got the gun, who owned it or why it was brought to the gathering.
The case remained under investigation Saturday as detectives reviewed witness statements and the recovered firearm. Because the suspect is a juvenile, court records and charging details may be limited unless prosecutors move the case into adult court. Police did not announce a scheduled briefing or hearing. The next steps are expected to include forensic testing of the gun, review of any available video from nearby homes or businesses, and interviews with the children and adults who were near the scene when the shot was fired.
Neighbors gave accounts that pointed to confusion in the first moments after the shooting. One neighbor told News4JAX that he heard about the girl being placed in an ambulance while emergency workers treated her. Another account from the neighborhood described a child on the ground calling for help after the shot. Police have not confirmed those accounts in full, and investigators have not released a detailed timeline of what happened in the seconds before the gun fired. No other injuries were reported publicly Saturday.
The girl remained stable Saturday, and the juvenile suspect remained in custody as detectives continued to investigate the shooting near Benedict and Moncrief roads.
Author note: Last updated June 20, 2026.