The late-night gathering drew dozens to a Jacksonville Eastside intersection.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Police on Monday were still looking for a suspect after a burst of gunfire at a memorial gathering for rapper Lil Poppa left four people wounded on Jacksonville’s Eastside. Investigators said an unidentified shooter fired 12 to 15 rounds shortly after midnight Sunday at a crowd gathered at A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and Jessie Street.
The shooting turned a neighborhood tribute into an active investigation and added to a tense weekend marked by multiple reports of gun violence in the Jacksonville area. Officers have not released a description of the suspect, and they have not said what sparked the gunfire, leaving community members pleading for witnesses to come forward as detectives sort through video and interviews.
Authorities said the victims were four adults, including two women and two men, ranging in age from their mid-30s to early 40s. Police identified the injured as women ages 34 and 39 and men ages 37 and 43, according to local reporting that cited investigators. The 34-year-old woman was found at the scene and taken to a hospital by ambulance, while the other three victims drove themselves to a hospital for treatment, the report said. Officials did not immediately provide updated conditions for the injured or say whether any of them required surgery.
The crowd had gathered to honor Janarious Mykel Wheeler, the Jacksonville rapper known as Lil Poppa, who died last week at age 25. The memorial drew friends, fans and neighbors to the Eastside intersection in the early hours of Sunday, a time when gatherings can swell and spill into nearby streets. Police said the shooter fired and fled before officers arrived, and they have not said whether the victims were the intended targets or were struck as bystanders amid the confusion.
By Sunday morning, the intersection showed signs of a party that ended abruptly, with trash and liquor bottles left behind near the curb. People who live nearby said they are used to late-night gatherings, but they described the gunfire as a shocking escalation. Robert Phelps, a member of First Baptist Church of Oakland in the area, said he remembered Wheeler from childhood performances and said the violence felt out of place for the neighborhood. He said the loss of a young artist, followed by shots at a memorial, compounded grief for people who came simply to remember someone from their community.
Investigators have not said how close the shooter was to the victims, whether the shots came from a vehicle or on foot, or whether multiple guns were involved. Police also have not said whether they recovered shell casings, bullets or a firearm, or whether they have surveillance footage that clearly shows the shooter. Detectives typically work to build a timeline from emergency calls, video clips and statements from people who saw the first signs of tension. In cases like this, witnesses can be hesitant to speak publicly, especially when a suspect remains at large and rumors spread quickly online.
Wheeler’s death drew a wave of tributes from the music world and from fans who followed his career. Collective Music Group, the label founded by rapper Yo Gotti, said in a statement that it was devastated by the loss and described Wheeler as a rare artist whose music reflected his pain and growth. Authorities in Georgia have said Wheeler died after a crash and a self-inflicted gunshot in the Atlanta area, a death that stunned supporters and set off a series of vigils and memorial plans back home in Jacksonville.
The memorial shooting also prompted renewed calls from local faith leaders for people to intervene before arguments turn into gunfire. Bishop Harry Williams of In the Word International Church said people who attend parties and play music at gatherings should speak up when they see someone carrying a gun. Williams urged people to de-escalate and separate those involved in disputes, saying a single decision can determine whether a night ends with laughter or ambulances. His message echoed a familiar refrain from community leaders who often step in after violence to try to prevent the next shooting.
Police said the next steps include continued interviews and a review of any available camera footage from the area, as detectives work to identify the shooter and determine a motive. Authorities asked anyone with information to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. As of Monday afternoon, no arrests had been announced, and investigators had not released suspect images or a timeline for updates.
Author note: Last updated February 23, 2026.