JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three shootings have hit Northwest Jacksonville over the past 72 hours, one of which left a man dead on a sidewalk. All three incidents have police currently looking for suspects.
The first shooting took place Monday in the Grand Park area of Jacksonville at West 18th Street and Division Street, where police say two men and a boy were shot. On Tuesday a man was robbed, shot and killed while on his way to work on Moncrief Road and West 35th Street. Then, on Wednesday, shots were fired outside a local mall, making it the third gun-related incident in the area in three days.
Wednesday night community leaders said they've had enough.
Channel 4's Francesca Amiker spoke with leaders in the community who said they aren't putting all the blame on criminals. Community members are asked what they can do to stop the violence. They say it's about accountability, which starts at home.
Discipline, self-confidence, focus, perseverance and increasing spirit are just a few of the traits that karate instructor Michael Hurst wants to see more of in his community. He says the senseless and growing gun violence is only hindering the growth of the neighborhood children that he teaches every day.
"Football game going on, the cheerleaders, you know all those kids come out for something good, and it's not fair for them to be ran out of the community and positive events being put on hold because of this ugly problem we have here in Jacksonville," Hurst said.
Within the past five months the area has been the scene of five gun-related incidents. Back in June a bullet shattered a window of a local fire station.
In July 14-year-old James Thomas was shot and killed after getting out of the neighborhood swimming pool.
Because of those incidents and the ones from the past three days, many from the community have had enough.
"It's a whole bunch of senseless killing and it seems that nobody cares about the blood being shed in the streets," said Linda Dayson, executive director and founder of Hurting Families with Children in Crime.
Dayson says the solution begins with men.
"Men, men, men need to stand up," Dayson said. "Men need to take their place. So many men, 30, 40 and 50 (years old) that are just out of place and these young boys need role models."
Dayson wants all parents to listen to their children, no matter where they live.
"Please spend an hour of time out of your day taking time to listen to your children," Dayson said. "Don't cuss at them, don't fuss at them, don't be on your phone, don't tweet, don't text. Listen to your children, because they have a lot to say. You can learn where they're going, what's going on with them and where they're at."
Dayson is in touch with dozens of families that have lost loved ones to gun violence. She's now working to change the justice system and provide a more productive alternative than juvenile detention centers.