Local Shooting
On November 4, 2023, around 5:45 a.m., a burglary took place at a Ponte Vedra storage unit, just 5.5 miles from Davis Park, where a shootout took place just a few hours later. The incident ultimately ended at the park where a deputy shot the suspect and took his partner into custody. While this was happening, local children had morning sports practices in the park, and high schoolers were taking the SAT next door. “We had thousands and thousands of kids in the Davis Park area, kids at Ponte Vedra High School taking exams, practicing sports, when this incident was going on in broad daylight,” Sheriff Rob Hardwick said (news4jax.com.) The suspect was airlifted to a trauma center in Clay County, where he later died from the gunshot wound. His partner, Crystal Lynn O’Neal, was charged with 14 felonies and two misdemeanor counts related to burglary (news4jax.com). Thankfully no civilians or law enforcement were harmed, and the St Johns County Sheriff’s department acted quickly.
By: Emily Fleming
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