3 days ago
JSO: Robbery suspect shoots officer, who returns fire killing him
A Family Dollar robbery suspect shot a Jacksonville sheriff's officer who then returned fire, killing the man on Soutel Drive near Norfolk Boulevard early on July 9. The Sheriff's Office said the officer was able to strap a tourniquet onto his leg and is expected to be OK.
'If a person will shoot at a policeman for doing his job after he just committed an armed robbery, he'll shoot at anyone," Sheriff T.K. Waters said at the scene.
This is at least the third time an officer was shot at this year in Jacksonville, and the second wounded.
Chief Alan Parker said it started with store employees observing a man walking around outside about 7 to 7:30 a.m. and in their opinion was casing it out. Once the store opened about 8 a.m., some customers entered and soon the man also was inside wearing a mask and hoodie. He tells a clerk, 'Give me the money or I'll shoot you," Parker said.
She gave him all the cash, about $100, and he left, according to the incident report. One of the witnesses who had already been suspicious of him called police with his description.
Officer Luis Mercado III spotted him running and began to chase him. He gave him repeated commands to stop and finally caught up to him, the chief said.
More on the shooting: Jacksonville police officer shot in gunfight responding to robbery. What we know
'He takes him down on the ground. The suspect is dropping the money and stuff there at the scene. As the officer is on top of him getting ready to secure him, the suspect kind of moves to his right and fires two rounds," Parker said. "One of the rounds does hit our officer in the leg. … The officer returns fire and shoots the suspect.'
The 20-year-old suspect did not survive. Parker said he has a lengthy criminal history. For the four-year officer, it was his first police shooting.
It marks the Sheriff's Office's 10th police shooting this year. Six have been fatal. Last year had a total of eight, with three being fatal, according to Times-Union records.
What happened to the other Jacksonville officer who was shot?
On March 12, Officer Adam Gaulding was conducting a traffic stop at about 9 a.m. when the driver pulled into what turned out to be his own driveway on Ribault Avenue. As the officer was getting out of the vehicle, the suspect opened his driver door. The officer gave him commands to stay in the vehicle, and at that point the suspect leaned out and began firing rounds at the officer striking him in the foot.
Officers down: Three Jacksonville sheriff's officers have been shot this year. Here's what we know.
Gaulding returned fire, hitting him multiple times. The suspect, 33-year-old Brandon Timothy White, was wearing a bulletproof vest and had a rifle and a second pistol on the seat.
(This story has been updated with new details.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Suspect shoots Jacksonville officer, who returns fire killing him
