(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
An officer shot and killed an armed suspect who tried to run away during a gang and drug investigation and also drew his weapon, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. This was the first police shooting in the city since July 17 .
It happened about 4 p.m. Tuesday while officers were surveilling “some known gang members” in the 2900 block of Justina Road off Merrill Road near Jacksonville University.
“They were watching them as they were kind of flashing guns back and forth, they were in and out of one car with guns, they were doing multiple drug transactions,” Chief Alan Parker said.
When officers approached them, two of the three complied, he said. But the third took off running.
“One of the officers had a short foot pursuit for that individual running with the pistol,” Parker said. “As the person drew the gun, the officer voiced out that he had a gun. ‘Gun, gun, gun.'”
The officer fired four times, the chief said. The suspect fell to the ground and did drop the gun. But he still wouldn’t comply and got back up and raised his hands, “we’re assuming just to show they were empty at that point.” The foot pursuit then continued and he jumped a wall. Officers were able to find him, and he was taken to a hospital where he died.