If you woke up this morning and saw the sirens or the yellow tape, you're probably asking: was there a shooting in Florida today? It’s a heavy question. Honestly, it's one that Floridians are asking more often than they’d like. Florida is huge. It's a massive, sprawling state with 67 counties, so "today" can mean a dozen different things depending on whether you’re in the Panhandle or down in the Keys.
As of Sunday, January 18, 2026, the short answer is yes. But it isn't one single massive event; rather, it's a series of local incidents that have kept law enforcement busy through the early morning hours.
Jacksonville: The Campus Hills Drive Incident
Right around midnight, things got violent in Jacksonville. It wasn't a random act of terror or a mass event, but for the person involved, it was life-altering. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) spent the early hours of Sunday at a home on Campus Hills Drive.
According to the JSO, an argument broke out at a residence. These things often start small—a disagreement, a raised voice—but this one ended with a woman being shot in the leg. She was rushed to a local hospital. Luckily, police are saying it’s a non-life-threatening injury.
They moved fast. The suspect was arrested almost immediately. If you live in that neighborhood, you can breathe a little easier knowing the "active" part of the threat is over. Police have been very clear that there isn't some shooter on the loose in Jacksonville right now related to this specific case.
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The McDonald's Investigation in Oceanway
Just a few hours before the Campus Hills shooting, another scene unfolded in Jacksonville. This one was at a McDonald’s on North Main Street and New Berlin. If you drove past and saw the swarm of cruisers, that’s what was going on.
Jacksonville Fire Rescue (JFRD) transported one person to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. That is a heavy term. "Life-threatening" means the doctors are fighting for them right now. The JSO is still digging into what led to those shots being fired in such a public place.
A Look Back: The Gainesville Shootout
You might still be hearing echoes of a much larger event from just a few days ago. On Wednesday, January 14, Gainesville turned into a literal war zone. It’s hard to ignore when people ask about a shooting in Florida today because the trauma from Gainesville is still very fresh.
That was a "hellacious gun battle," as the police chief put it. Two people died, including the gunman and his initial victim. Two police officers were shot and wounded. It happened during the morning rush hour near the University of Florida.
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Think about that for a second. People were just trying to get to work. They were getting their morning coffee. Then, suddenly, bullets are piercing the glass of an auto repair shop and hitting six parked cars. It was a mess. The officers are out of the hospital now, but that area of East Gainesville is still feeling the sting.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
Florida is in a weird spot with gun violence. We have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but we also have a "C-" ranking from gun safety groups like Everytown. In 2026, the data shows that Florida still ranks around 33rd in the nation for gun death rates.
It’s not just the big headlines. It’s the small stuff too.
- Domestic disputes that turn deadly.
- Road rage on I-4.
- Celebratory gunfire like we saw on New Year's Day earlier this month.
Basically, if you feel like you're hearing about this every day, you kind of are. On average, one person is killed by a gun every few hours in this state when you factor in homicides, suicides, and accidents.
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Staying Safe and Staying Informed
When a shooting happens, the "active shooter" fear is the first thing that hits. But most of the time, these are isolated incidents between people who know each other.
If you are looking for real-time updates for your specific city, you shouldn't just wait for the nightly news. Follow the local Sheriff's Office on social media. In Florida, the "Pulse" apps or local JSO/Miam-Dade police Twitter accounts are usually the fastest way to know if you need to stay inside.
What You Should Do Now
If you were affected by the Jacksonville shooting or the Gainesville shootout, or if you're just feeling the anxiety of the news cycle, there are actual steps you can take.
- Check Local Police Feeds: If you’re in Jacksonville, follow the JSO (@JSOPIO) for the latest on the Campus Hills Drive case.
- Report Tips: If you know anything about the Oceanway McDonald’s shooting, call 1-866-845-TIPS. You can stay anonymous.
- Support Victims: Look for verified GoFundMe pages for the families in Gainesville. They are dealing with funeral costs and medical bills that don't just go away.
- Practice Safety: If you own a firearm, check your locks. A lot of Florida shootings involve stolen or improperly stored guns.
The news moves fast. One minute we're talking about a shooting, and the next, it's a freeze warning in Northeast Florida. But for the people on Campus Hills Drive today, the world stopped for a minute. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep your phone charged, and check in on your neighbors.