Detectives searched for witnesses and video after the shooting on Soutel Drive.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man in his early 20s was shot to death Monday morning inside a laundromat in Northwest Jacksonville, police said. Investigators set up a wide crime scene near Soutel Drive and New Kings Road as they looked for the gunman and any surveillance footage.
Police described the killing as a targeted encounter that unfolded quickly inside the business, leaving little time for workers or customers nearby to react. The death added to a stretch of gun violence in the Jacksonville area that has kept detectives working multiple scenes in recent days. By midday Monday, investigators had not announced an arrest or released the victim’s name.
Officers were called to the laundromat in the 5500 block of Soutel Drive just after 8 a.m., police said. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue crews responded alongside patrol officers and found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the shooting happened inside the laundromat after a suspect approached the victim on foot. The account was direct and stark: the suspect “walked up to the victim and shot him,” officers said as detectives began canvassing for information.
Authorities initially described the scene as a shooting near the intersection of New Kings Road and Soutel Drive, an area lined with small businesses and heavy morning traffic. Patrol cars and crime scene tape surrounded the laundromat and nearby storefronts while investigators worked. Detectives spoke with people in the area and checked for cameras that might have captured the suspect’s arrival or escape route. Police did not say what kind of weapon was used, how many shots were fired, or whether the victim knew the shooter.
Investigators also did not say whether the gunman fled on foot or in a vehicle, and they did not provide a description of the suspect. That left residents and workers nearby with basic questions still unanswered as the day went on: who the victim was, why he was inside the laundromat at that hour, and what led the shooter to that location. Police did not say whether the laundromat was open for business at the time or how many people were inside when the shots rang out. Detectives continued to process the scene and document evidence, including areas inside the business where the shooting occurred.
The killing unfolded in a part of Jacksonville where major roads connect neighborhoods across the city’s Northside and Northwest. New Kings Road is a busy corridor for commuters, freight trucks and shoppers, and businesses along Soutel Drive often serve customers from several nearby neighborhoods. Police said the area was secured so investigators could interview witnesses without interference and so technicians could complete evidence collection. Officers asked anyone with video from doorbell cameras, parking lot systems or nearby businesses to share it with detectives, police said.
In the hours after the shooting, law enforcement activity remained concentrated around the laundromat. A large perimeter stayed in place while officers moved in and out of taped areas and investigators spoke with people who said they were in the area that morning. Some workers at nearby businesses watched from doorways as police took statements. Others were turned away from parking lots while detectives tried to confirm who was present and what they saw. Police did not announce any immediate closures beyond the crime scene perimeter, but the investigation slowed routine traffic around the intersection.
Detectives said their next steps included tracking down anyone who saw the suspect before or after the shooting and reviewing any available video. Police said they were interviewing witnesses and looking for surveillance footage that could help identify the shooter. Officials did not say whether homicide charges had been filed, and they did not name any person of interest. Investigators also did not say when they expect to release the victim’s identity, which often depends on notifying family members.
By late morning and into midday, the scene remained active, with investigators continuing to document the inside of the business and the surrounding area. People who live nearby said they were shaken by the sight of so many patrol cars and the sound of early morning sirens. The laundromat, typically a quiet stop for residents doing weekly chores, became a focal point for a homicide investigation. Police said the search for the gunman was still underway, and they urged anyone with information to contact authorities.
As of Monday afternoon, police had not announced an arrest or released a suspect description, and detectives said the case would depend heavily on witness accounts and video. Authorities said they expect to provide additional updates as the investigation develops.
Author note: Last updated February 23, 2026.