Is there a hostage situation on Southside Blvd. in Jacksonville, Florida?

THE Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to a hostage situation on Southside Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida on Thursday.

Police were called to Southside Boulevard near Touchton Road and have been stationed there since around 12pm.

What happened at Southside Boulevard?

The chief of investigations with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, T.K. Waters said a man entered a business with a handgun and told everyone to leave the building with the exception of one employee.

The man is in custody and has been identified as Gabriel Enrique Campla who entered through the front door with a handgun.

The employee began talking to him to calm the man down and relax. When he did, she used that time to leave the business, Waters said.

Campla fired one shot outside one of the windows and two in the ceiling, according to the chief of investigations.

The hostage, whose name has not been released "likely saved at least her own life" when she convinced Campla to lay down and relax, Waters said.

What did people at the scene see?

Ben Kingsbury, the owner of Goth City Limit, spoke with Jax4News at noon today and said he was on Southside Boulevard across from the Golden Corral.

He said his business is next to where the situation is unfolding and said he saw about 15 police officers in "armored vests and a sniper laying in the middle of Southside."

People were being told to stay inside the businesses and Kingsbury said "police were systematically removing everybody from the block."

The Jacksonville Police Department posted a tweet just after 1pm on January 6, 2022.

"Police activity in the areas of Southside Boulevard between Hogan Road and Touchton Road, expect traffic delays, no immediate danger to the public."

An animal hospital, a restaurant, and Serenity Salon were among the businesses that had been surrounded by the SWAT team, helicopters, and drones, although Waters would not release the name of the business.

More to follow…

For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online.

The-sun.com is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sport news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheUSSun.

Most read in US News

WORLD ON EDGE

How Russian invasion may trigger conflict in 'all corners of globe' in WW3

HUNTED DOWN

UFO 'chased by Black Hawk helicopters' across sky as alien hunters speculate

FROZEN IN TIME

Inside lab that keeps bodies and heads of 200 to be 'brought back to life'

CRASH HORROR

I lost 75% of my skin crawling out of burning car & had to relearn to talk

We pay for your stories!

Do you have a story for The US Sun team?

Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Star James Snyder Fired From Broadway Show After Independent Investigation
    Next post Parents' fury after children 'left freezing' after school bans coats in class – but NOT for teachers