Scott Butler of The Florida Times-Union reports:
A Jacksonville man is accused of shooting an 18-year-old after telling him to pull his jeans up.
ConstantinIt happened about 7:15 p.m. Saturday at Cross Creek Apartments on Manotak Avenue. Police arrived to find the 54-year-old suspect standing next to the victim. The suspect had a gun in his waistband but kept his hands up for police.
Several witnesses told police the man followed David A. Mitchell into the courtyard from the pool telling him to pull his pants up. The two began to argue, and the younger man pushed the suspect before being shot in the stomach, according to the arrest report.
Mitchell, who was released from the hospital the same day, told the Times-Union Monday that the bullet is still in his side but the doctors say he’ll be fine. He said he had never seen the man and knew his shorts were sagging. He said he pulled them up, but the man said it wasn’t enough and just kept coming. So he pushed him off and tried to walk away.
John C. Constantin , who lives at the Westside apartments, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. According to the arrest report, he told police it was self-defense after he was assaulted for telling Mitchell to pull his pants up.
Family reached at his home Monday offered their apologies and said Constantin was remorseful for what happened. He remains in jail on $100,000 bail.
