The tragic incident on Julington Creek Road, which occurred on April 22, followed closely on the heels of a double shooting earlier that day, resulting in a woman’s death on Jacksonville’s Westside.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has unveiled new details about an officer-involved shooting in the Mandarin area of the city.
According to JSO, officers were dispatched around 5:30 a.m. to the 8200 block of Susie Street, a residential area in the Westside, after reports of a shooting surfaced.
Upon arrival, officers discovered two adults outside, both suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to a nearby hospital, where the woman was declared deceased, while the other victim remained in critical condition.
Police investigations later centered on 53-year-old Robert Phillips as a person of interest. Phillips was already wanted on an outstanding warrant related to a theft charge.
At approximately 1:20 p.m., JSO located Phillips’ vehicle parked outside a residence in the 5100 block of Julington Creek Road. Phillips exited the house a few hours later and got into his vehicle, prompting JSO to carry out a “planned tactical vehicle block.”
While inside his vehicle at around approximately two hours later, JSO states that Phillips “armed himself with a handgun and fired two shots” at deputies before they returned fire. Phillips died on the scene.
Had he survived the shooting, JSO says that Phillips would have been arrested for theft, attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, murder and attempted murder.
According to JSO, Phillips had a criminal history consisting of domestic battery, battery, resisting a law enforcement officer, drug and drug paraphernalia possession, criminal mischief and solicitation of a prostitute.
JSO states that the State Attorney’s Office will review the incident to determine the legality of the shooting, while the sheriff’s office conducts an internal review.
You can watch the body-worn camera footage here.
