Breon Allen, 7, was shot to death in a drive-by shooting late Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. | MAD DADS
Published on January 27, 2025 at 12:32 pm
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A 7-year-old boy was shot to death and an 8-month-old baby was placed on the road and run over in separate outbreaks of violence over the weekend.
Seven-year-old Breon Allen was shot about 5 p.m. Friday as he and a 21-year-old man left a home on Commonwealth Avenue. People jumped out of a car, believed to be a Kia Soul, and began shooting in what police believe was a gang-affiliated shooting.
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Breon died at a hospital, and the man was in critical position, police said.
Both Mayor Donna Deegan and City Council member Ken Amaro released statements about the shooting.
Deegan said such heartbreaking violence has no place in Jacksonville. Amaro called the shooting “senseless violence.”
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“When will it end? When?” Amaro said. “Another young innocent life lost to senseless violence on our streets. A child who will not grow up to live his full potential.”
The Sheriff’s Office says anyone who can provide information leading to an arrest could be eligible for an up to $18,000 reward by calling First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-TIPS.
More violence
The second death happened at 11 a.m. Saturday, when an 8-month-old baby was killed at Lenox and McDuff avenues, police say.
A man and woman were arguing as they stopped at the intersection. The 20-year-old man, who was driving, opened his door and put the baby on the roadway, then ran over the child, police say.
The driver, identified as Justin Towand Golden, was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and vehicular homicide and remains jailed, police say.
