Jacksonville Beach shooting leaves man in critical condition

An early Monday shooting outside a Jacksonville Beach Taco Bell capped off a violent weekend in the city and ended with an arrest, according to police.

Under arrest in the shooting is 34-year-old Wesley Jackson Jr. of Andress Street, Jacksonville, charged with attempted murder and burglary after his Monday morning arrest, according to Duval County jail records.

Officers were called out about 2:15 a.m. to the Taco Bell at 280 Third St. S. on a report of a shooting in its drive-through lane, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department reported. One person was found with a gunshot wound at the restaurant near Third Avenue South and taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said.

Jackson's arrest report said he got into an argument with the unidentified victim after both had been drinking at area bars. Both went to their cars, but when the victim pulled behind Jackson in the drive-through lane, they began arguing again, the report said.

Both men got out of their cars and continued to argue, then fought. The victim punched Jackson, then went back to his car, the report said. But Jackson continued to argue before a .38-caliber gun was pulled and the victim shot once in the torso, the report said.

The victim is expected to recover, police said.

Two other shootings Sunday left two dead and one injured, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said. 

A man believed to be about 30 was shot about 3 p.m. at the Sunoco station at 1393 Kings Road, pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital, police said. And just after midnight Sunday, a 37-year-old man died and a woman was hospitalized following a shooting at the Thomas Chase Apartments at 4901 Sunbeam Road, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Anyone with information can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and receive a possible reward, contact Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-8477 (TIPS).