In an unsettling turn of events in Jacksonville, a local resident found himself caught in the aftermath of a crime he never imagined being part of. Ethan Farrell’s vehicle was reportedly stolen while he was engaged in a routine DoorDash delivery, only to become a pivotal element in a dramatic police chase that culminated in a crash and shooting.
The incident unfolded on a Saturday evening in the Brentwood area. As Farrell briefly stepped away to deliver a food order, his car was snatched in a matter of moments. Speaking to First Coast News, Farrell expressed his disbelief: “How can that happen to me, like out of all people. I’m just trying to deliver a DoorDash order, I’m just trying to make a little extra money — and my car ends up being stolen and used in a crime, and so it’s just kind of shocking and frustrating at first.”
The series of events escalated when the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported that individuals in the stolen vehicle engaged officers in a high-speed pursuit. The chase reached its climax on Moncrief Road near 21st Street West, where the driver allegedly collided with a patrol car before careening into a storefront.
Farrell’s car, unluckily thrust into the center of this chaotic scenario, remains a stark reminder of how quickly a routine task can spiral into an unexpected and distressing ordeal.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, people in a reportedly stolen car led officers on a chase that ended on Moncrief Road near 21st Street West. Police say the driver slammed into a patrol vehicle, then crashed into a storefront.
Farrell says that stolen vehicle was his.
“I went around to the back to deliver the order, ’cause that’s what the specific location said — they said they couldn’t come through the front door,” he said. “When I came back around, that’s when I noticed my vehicle was gone.”
When he went to the impound lot Monday morning, Farrell says the damage was far worse than he expected.
“It’s pretty much totaled. The only real issue is a lot of bodywork. The front bumper is gone. The driver’s side is pretty banged up, the passenger side is dented, and both doors are damaged,” said Farrell.
Police say several people were inside the vehicle when it crashed. Two stayed at the scene while others ran, including one teenager who was shot by an officer after allegedly ignoring commands. The teen underwent surgery and is recovering in a local hospital.
“The fact that a police cruiser got hit is just reckless to me,” said Farrell.
Now, he’s left without a car and unsure how he’ll cover the repair and impound costs.
“What I’ve learned from this situation is to turn my car off, especially if I’m just DoorDashing,” said Farrell. “I was thinking I’d just deliver food and come back — but you can’t do that at all. Even if it’s quick, somebody will run in there and take it.” said Farrell.
JSO says several other suspects involved in the crash have been detained, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Farrell has since launched a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of repairing his car, which he says is “pretty much totaled” after the chase.
