A police-involved shooting in Jacksonville has left residents unsettled as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding a car chase that tragically ended in gunfire.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Oceanway neighborhood in Jacksonville was the scene of a fatal officer-involved shooting late Tuesday night, prompting an ongoing investigation.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reports that the incident unfolded shortly before 11:15 p.m. Officers in an unmarked vehicle identified 52-year-old Wayne Jones in a car they believed to be stolen and pursued him through a neighborhood near Kaleel Road.
During the pursuit, officers attempted to subdue Jones using a stun gun. However, police claim Jones brandished a firearm, prompting officers to shoot, resulting in his death.
Residents along Kaleel Road were left rattled by the incident.
“We just heard gunshots ringing out,” recounted Leane Millington, a neighbor and friend of Jones. “There were no sirens, nothing else. It was surreal.”
Millington, who lives next door, said she had known Jones for about a year. She said he had recently been rebuilding relationships with his family.
“He did 10 years in prison, he was just getting close with his daughter and granddaughter,” Millington told First Coast News.
Crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson says in the cases of stolen vehicles, officers often run a license plate before attempting a stop.
“In this case, that tag did not match [the vehicle]; the car was what gave them probable cause,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson says in high-risk situations like this, officers may conduct what is known as a “felony takedown,” a tactic used when a suspect is believed to be dangerous.
“Typically, if someone has stolen a car and they get lit up by police lights, they’re gonna run. If you’re going to get into a vehicle pursuit or a foot pursuit, the officers will try non-force initially with a taser. Once they saw the weapon, they had to use force,” said Jefferson.
The State Attorney’s Office is now reviewing the shooting.
