Second person arrested for drive-by shooting near soccer field

OAKLEAF – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested 16-year-old Elliot Grijota Friday in connection with the drive-by shooting near the soccer fields at Oakleaf Plantation on Feb. 21.

He was charged with three counts of attempted murder after investigators determined he and Behrend James Ludwig, 18, both from Jacksonville, were involved in a dispute with individuals who were near Silver Bluff Boulevard and Plantation Oaks Boulevard. Grijota and Ludwig drove past and Grijota told CCSO deputies Ludwig fired shots toward the group, injuring one person, who was taken to Wolfson Children’s Hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm.

Ludwig was arrested and booked into the Clay County jail on Feb. 22. His bond is $750.009.

Because Grijota is a minor, he was transported to the Duval Regional Detention Center Friday.

Investigators talked with Grijota at the Orange Park substation after the shooting, after witnesses reported his license tag and identified one of the occupants as “Gator.” He told investigators “Gator” was Ludwig.

According to Ludwig’s arrest report, they released Grijota because they didn’t have enough evidence to charge him. During the next five days, that changed.

According to Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook, the arrests of both suspects close the agency’s investigation and it will now be turned over to the State Attorney’s Office.

“Crime of any sort will never be welcomed or tolerated in Clay County. The two suspects in this case had absolutely no regard for human life and their heinous, violent actions put innocent families and children in harm’s way,” she said. “The safety of our community is my top priority, and we’re committed to holding criminals accountable for their actions. I want to thank our community for providing pertinent information at the time of the incident and our deputies and investigators for their swift actions. I’m extremely grateful for their hard work and determination to keep our community safe.”