JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —
The arrest of four teenagers, including a 14-year-old girl, for murder in Jacksonville has stunned the community.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests Wednesday of the suspects who are between the ages of 14 and 18.
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JSO said the teens were behind a triple shooting at the Calloway Cove Apartments, formerly known as Washington Heights.
Action News Jax learned a 30-year-old mother, a 30-year-old man and a 27-year-old man were killed in the shooting.
In addition to the 18-year-old, Action News Jax chose to show and share names and faces of the three teens under the age of 18 because of the severity of the crimes they are accused of:
- Kyshawn Glover, 17 – Murder, Criminal Conspiracy
- Owen Laureano Cosme, 17 – Murder
- Keon Lester, 18 – Murder, Criminal Conspiracy
- Alana Sears, 14 – Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, Fleeing a LEO, Accessory
Action News Jax spoke to Pastor John Guns about youth violence in the community following the arrests of the four teens.
“It’s not only frightening, but it’s disheartening,” Pastor Guns said.
Pastor Guns’ church is around the corner from where the triple murder took place.
He said not only were the victims’ lives destroyed, but also the suspects.
“They will probably never have an opportunity to fully experience adulthood,” Pastor Guns said.
“They will probably find themselves in and out of the system or in the system.”
Pastor Guns said youth violence has been an ongoing problem.
“This is disheartening and discouraging because there appears to be no end to this,” Pastor Guns said.
Pastor Guns said he often wonders what the community can do better.
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“I think we all have to embrace the fact that this is our, this is our challenge. We have to not see this as a side of town or a particular race,” Pastor Guns said.
Pastor Guns said there are many layers to youth gun violence and how to address it.
“I don’t think we can avoid the question of parenting and the role of parents in providing our children early on with the resources that they need,” Pastor Guns said. “I think the only way to really change this is that we have to catch children, we have to catch them much younger. We have to provide them with exposure and opportunities to what they can be and then I think we have to, you know, begin to seriously look at you know how our children are being educated or what they are being exposed to.”
Cox Media Group
