Police investigate a shooting that killed two people Christmas night in Palatka. | News4Jax
Published on December 26, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F. Sign up for the Jacksonville Today newsletter.
Two people were killed and a third was critically injured Wednesday night in a shooting near the Palatka Daily News parking lot, News4Jax reported.
According to Palatka police, a party in St. Johns County spilled over into Palatka as an after-party, and officers were called around 9:40 p.m. to clear a parking lot of people on North 19th Street.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
The officers at the scene heard several gunshots coming from across the street in front of the Palatka Daily News on St. Johns Avenue.
Officers said when they got to the property, they found three people shot. One died at the scene, a second died at the hospital and a third was taken to a trauma center with critical injuries.
Police have not released the identifies of the shooting victims because they are working to contact their families.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
A News4Jax source said the Palatka Daily News building was riddled with bullet holes, but no employees were inside the building during the shooting.
“We are saddened by the events which occurred on Christmas night that culminated in the vicinity of our building on St. Johns Avenue,” Publisher Jennifer Moates said. “No Palatka Daily News employees were working at the time. Our prayers are with the families who tragically lost loved ones, and we are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly to assist all involved. As journalists, we will continue to follow this investigation closely and provide updates to our community. As members of our community, we grieve the loss.”
Our source said as many as 60 shell casings were found at the scene, and police remained on the scene Thursday morning processing all the bullet holes inside the building.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Scene Unit and the State Attorney’s Office Homicide Investigative Unit were also called and are assisting Palatka detectives.
Palatka police said more information will be released as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Colten Lee or Sgt. David Lazo at 386-329-0115 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477.
This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
