Jacksonville officer shot in vest; suspect dies in plunge from bridge into the river

Dan Scanlan, Florida Times-Union
·2 min read

A burglary suspect opened fire on Jacksonville police late Sunday hitting one in the back, but the officer was wearing a bulletproof, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The man believed to have shot the officer fled as he fired more shots, then died after jumping off the Dames Point bridge into the St. Johns River, the Sheriff's Office said.

It started about 10:45 p.m. with two officers responding to the burglary call near the 4100 block of Old Middleburg Road, Chief Brian Kee said.

"They were ambushed by the suspect," Kee said. "The suspect fired multiple rounds and struck one of the officers in the back. Fortunately, the body armor that JSO issues stopped that round. ... That officer was able to return fire."

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Kee said investigators do not know if the suspect was hit in the shootout. But he stole a car from the home and fled, firing at the officers as he drove off.

"We have multiple [shell] casings at the scene," Kee said. "... As he was fleeing, he actually hit a parked car."

Jacksonville police investigate a burglary crime scene off Old Middleburg Road where an officer and suspect traded gunfire late Sunday. One officer was hit in the back but was wearing a bulletproof vest. The apparent suspect fled, crashed during the pursuit on the Dames Point bridge and died after jumping into the St. Johns River, police said.
Jacksonville police investigate a burglary crime scene off Old Middleburg Road where an officer and suspect traded gunfire late Sunday. One officer was hit in the back but was wearing a bulletproof vest. The apparent suspect fled, crashed during the pursuit on the Dames Point bridge and died after jumping into the St. Johns River, police said.

The chief said the suspect is known to the people in the home where the burglary was reported, and multiple descriptions were provided. The vehicle was spotted and pursued about 25 miles away on the Dames Point bridge by officers.

"They witnessed this suspect exit the car and jump over the side of the bridge into the river," Kee said. "They were able to see him swim for a little bit, then he disappeared. JFRD and our marine and dive team have been in the area searching, and at about 3 a.m. they located a body."

A gun was found at the bottom of the river near the body, he said.

It was unknown if the suspect had been shot by officers, although blood was found in the stolen car, Kee said.

The injured officer had "severe bruising" from the shot that hit the bulletproof vest but is recovering, he said.

His name was not released under the state's Marsy's Law. The Times-Union is not identifying the 37-year-old suspect because he has such common name without a middle name and could be associated with too many other people.

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There have been seven people shot by Jacksonville police so far this year, five of them dying, according to Times-Union records. Sunday's exchange of gunfire has yet to be classified.

Last year police shot six people including three who died, according to the Times-Union's data.

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville officer is shot in vest; suspect dies jumping from bridge