JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An officer is in critical condition at the hospital after being shot outside Baptist Medical Center South Tuesday night, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The shooter is dead.
The incident began when an off-duty officer noticed a vehicle driving suspiciously in the hospital parking lot Tuesday night, Sheriff TK Waters said during a media briefing.
The officer tried to stop the car, but the person drove off, Waters said.
UNCUT: Press play below to watch Sheriff TK Waters’ full briefing
Other officers who were near the hospital responded and helped search the vehicle. One of the responding officers also attempted to stop the vehicle, and the man inside the car rolled down his window slightly, held out a gun, or what appeared to be a gun, and said, “Shoot me,” he said Waters.
The man then fired a shot at a police car. The officer in that police car did not fire at the time, Waters said.
Other officers became involved after the shot was fired and attempted a PIT maneuver on the vehicle, which failed.
The shooter then crashed into a police car, hit another police car head-on and then crashed into a pole, Waters said.
Officers tried to get the man out of the car by repeatedly giving him strong verbal commands, but he refused to get out of the car, Waters said.
An officer was shot outside Baptist Health South Tuesday night. The shooter is dead. (WJXT)
An officer then approached the vehicle, and as he approached to open a door, the man fired a shot through the window, striking the officer in the face. The bullet lodged in his chest, Waters said.
Five officers returned fire, striking and killing the shooter.
Prior to this incident, the shooter only had one speeding ticket on his record, according to Waters.
“This shows what police work is. Police officers are not expendable. They’re human beings doing their job to keep people safe,” Waters said. “We don’t come here expecting to be shot or killed, but we’re going to do everything we can to keep working, keep our city safe and keep our police officers safe “.
An officer was shot outside Baptist Health South Tuesday night. The shooter is dead. (WJXT)
This is the fifth JSO officer involved in a shooting this year and the third officer this year to be shot.
That officer was in the same JSO class as Malik Daricaud, who was shot while conducting a follow-up investigation to a traffic stop last month. Daricaud is recovering from his injuries.
“This is something I’ve never seen in the 32 years I’ve been working here,” Waters said. “It’s getting very ridiculous, very dangerous and it’s worrying.”
News4JAX has learned that the officer is engaged to be married.
The Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police posted a message on Facebook, asking for prayers for the officer:
All of the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, according to Waters. This is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.
The State Attorney’s Office is conducting an investigation.
A spokesperson for Baptist Health issued a statement Tuesday night:
“There was an incident outside Baptist Medical Center South this afternoon. Security noticed a suspicious person outside the hospital and notified the off-duty campus police officer. The officer called the “Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for additional support. Baptist South was closed for the safety of our patients, visitors and staff.”
News4JAX crime and security analyst Lakesha Burton shared her thoughts on the shooting on The Morning Show on Wednesday, saying being injured or shot in the line of duty is every officer’s worst fear.
“It’s alarming if you look at what’s happening across the country, officers are being gunned down across our country,” he said. “It’s time for us to come together and build stronger relationships and for the community to support our police officers.”
WATCH: Press play below for Burton’s full interview on The Morning Show
Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.
