According to the Sheriff's Office, a family member contacted authorities around 12:30 p.m. asking deputies to check on the couple at a residence off Lane Avenue near Biddy Lane. When officers arrived, they discovered a man and a woman, both in their 80s, dead inside the home.

The agency has not released the couple's names or said how they died. Asked whether there was any indication a firearm was involved, a sheriff's spokesperson said the investigation is still ongoing. Earlier in the afternoon, the Sheriff's Office had described the call as a report of a person shot near the address, though officials have not confirmed that account as the cause of death.

The deaths add to concerns about safety and isolation among older residents in Jacksonville's Westside neighborhoods, where many longtime homeowners live alone or with aging spouses. Advocates for seniors say welfare checks requested by relatives are often the first sign that an older resident may be in distress, and they encourage families to stay in regular contact with elderly relatives who live independently.

No further details about the circumstances inside the home have been made public. The Sheriff's Office has not said whether it is seeking any suspects or persons of interest, and it has not classified the case as a homicide or a death investigation involving another party.

Residents in the area should expect a continued law enforcement presence while detectives process the scene and gather evidence. Anyone with information about the couple or the events leading up to their deaths is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office or remain anonymous through Crime Stoppers.

The investigation is active and developing. This story will be updated as officials release additional information.