Where Florida’s Gun Violence Exacts Its Biggest Toll on Black and Latino Children
An analysis of hospital claims data in Florida found that firearm injuries of children disproportionately hit families in a handful of ZIP codes, almost all of them in Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, or Tampa Bay.
Jacksonville, a city divided by the St. Johns River, has become one of Florida's most violent places for children. In one tragic incident, 2-year-old A’mahri Robinson was shot in his mother's arms while being rocked to sleep. His mother, Ladonna Johnson, called A’mahri "sweet" and "affectionate." The toddler loved outdoor play and riding in his pull-along wagon.
Another child, also a toddler, died from a gunshot wound after his abuser, Steven Dodson Jr., reached for a gun during an argument. Dodson pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated child abuse, receiving a life sentence. Hospital data reveals that more than 4,000 children under 17 were hospitalized for firearm injuries in Florida from 2018 to 2024, with Jacksonville being one of the most affected cities.
The hospitalization rate for these injuries is nearly 1.5 per day. The high rates of firearm injuries among Black and Latino children in Jacksonville are linked to a history of racial discrimination and permissive gun laws. The city has several ZIP codes with some of the highest rates of firearm injuries for children, and these areas are plagued by pollution, poverty, and dilapidated housing.
Despite the severe impact of gun violence on children, the Florida Department of Health does not prioritize gun violence as a public health issue. Local leaders and officials have failed to address the root causes of preventable firearm injuries and deaths, such as poverty and lack of opportunity.
Written by urgent.news from KFF Health News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
