St. Augustine police shoot and kill man who they say charged at officers with knives
St. Augustine police have shot and killed a man in a reported officer-involved shooting Sunday afternoon along Pellicer Lane at Madeore Street.
Officials said at least four officers were involved; none of them were hurt.
The suspect was shot multiple times according to an eye-witness video and later died from their injuries.
The witness who took the video was hiding in a nearby store when she saw the entire incident unfold.
The St. Augustine Police report the man called 911 and reported that he was armed with a weapon, later determined to be a handgun while sitting on a porch of a residence.
The man pointed the gun at his head and chest threatening to kill himself, with negotiations between the man and police lasting roughly 30-45 minutes.
The man then set the gun down and armed himself with at least two knives and entered the roadway charging toward the Officers and Deputies holding each knife.
In the video you can see the man standing before officers; he then charges at them. Next, you hear several shots.
Officers report using “less-lethal/44mm rounds” on the subject as he continued to charge toward them, ending with their firearms being discharged incapacitating the subject.
“I was hoping they wouldn’t shoot him but they did,” the witness said.
After the shooting, first responders were performing CPR on the suspect and transported him to Flagler Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Latisha Kearse was watching the scene unfold through her daughter’s Facebook live.
“I said they’re going to start shooting pretty soon. I said you better go run and hide because the bullets [are] going to be going. I said a stray bullet can easily hit you,” Kearse said.
Kearse and her daughter, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was a frightening and intense situation
It’s very sad. Very, very sad,” Kearse said.
The Law Enforcement personnel involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave as part of agency policy.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident. SJCSO sent Action News Jax photos of the weapons used in the incident pictured below.
This is an ongoing investigation and will be updated when new information is available.
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