A routine Wednesday afternoon turned devastating on Jacksonville's Southside when gunfire erupted outside a busy gas station, claiming one life and sending another man to the hospital.

The deadly gas station shooting unfolded near the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and St. Johns Bluff Road, a heavily trafficked corridor in the East Arlington area, just before 3:30 p.m.

Officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office flooded the scene after a wave of 911 calls reported shots fired near the BP station at 10675 Atlantic Blvd.

Upon arrival, deputies located two men, both in their twenties, who had been struck by gunfire.

One of the men did not survive.

According to officials, he has since been identified by family as Jamel Taylor, 29 — a father of five children whom loved ones remember as a devoted presence in their lives.

Family members say Taylor had simply stopped at the gas station when the violence broke out, a gut-wrenching reminder of how quickly ordinary moments can turn fatal.

The second victim, struck in the leg, was transported to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover.

A vehicle was also caught in the crossfire, though no additional injuries were reported.

Investigators say multiple firearms were involved, raising the possibility of an exchange of gunfire rather than a one-sided attack.

As of the latest update, no arrests have been made and no suspect has been identified.

The motive behind the shooting remains under active investigation.

Crime scene tape stretched across the parking lot as detectives worked to piece together what happened, with witnesses saying the area was chaotic in the moments after the shots rang out.

One witness, who said the victim was his closest friend, described the moment as one of the most terrifying of his life.

A female relative of the surviving victim added her voice to a growing chorus of community frustration, calling on the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to take stronger and more urgent action against the relentless tide of gun violence gripping the city.

Her words carried the raw weight of a community that has absorbed too many losses.

Jacksonville recorded more than 100 homicides in 2025, according to recent data, with several ZIP codes — particularly on the Southside and Northside — seeing sharp year-over-year increases.

Mayor Donna Deegan launched a city initiative aimed at curbing gun violence, though critics have noted the program lacks a dedicated and sustained funding source.

Wednesday's tragedy underscores how urgently Jacksonville needs a more aggressive and resourced response.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact local authorities or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.