In a small town like Fernandina Beach, one tends to feel a bit sheltered. A community with its fair share of southern hospitality, strong church culture, large volunteer network, charming historic district, lots of neighborly people, and laid-back lifestyle. It’s quintessential small-town living. That’s one reason why Fernandina has attracted so many folks to move here. Amelia Island's desirable, relaxed lifestyle is "discovered," often by vacationers, with Amelia's thriving tourism industry. Many tourists decide to relocate or purchase second/future retirement homes here on this quaint barrier island.
Fernandina has been called “Mayberry” in the press at times, so picture a sleepy town. But even in Fernandina, there’s crime, and this year several murders. Just this week, a senior woman was the latest victim in the Fernandina area. She was reportedly killed by a neighbor who lived on the same street, a quiet neighborhood outside the historic district.
In September, just off Amelia Island along A1A, another woman was murdered, shot at a produce stand, the Down Home Market.
This violence occurred at this small roadside market, the victim was working at the time.
FERNANDINA SHAKEN BY MURDER-SUICIDE IN MAY 2006
Most memorable this year, however, was the hospital and school shooting. In May 2006, the town was shaken by a murder/suicide spree, when a man shot and killed his ex-wife and brother-in-law in the parking lot of Amelia Island’s Baptist hospital. More unnerving, though, was that he fled the scene and next drove to Emma Love Hardee elementary school and killed himself outside of the main lobby. Thankfully, he didn’t get inside the school and no one at Emma Love was injured.
Yet, it was a surreal experience for parents in this quiet, small town. So frightening, as news spread like wildfire that a shooting had occurred at the elementary school. Worried parents flocked to the school, a scene crawling with police officers and news crews. Most, of course, were stunned, and found it unbelievable that something like this could happen here in our small town. Many were thinking “what if” the shooter had gone into the school. Of course, there’s no safe haven these days, not even in small-town America.
Reportedly, there were no murders in Fernandina Beach in 2004 or 2005, so what’s going on in 2006? If one takes the time to read the police blotter in the local paper, it’s quite an eye opener, with loads of drug arrests, domestic violence, and more. But murder is unusual. Let’s hope the murder rate goes back to zero in 2007.
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