JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Police say Anthony Dwayne Harris, 38, had only been out of jail 11 days, and that he insisted he wasn't going back.
"Harris had an extensive criminal history," said Chief Tom Hackney with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. "It dated back to when he was 15 and had an arrest for murder."
According to JSO, the mother of Harris' teenage children called police to their home on North Pearl Street onMonday night because Harris and his 17-year-old son were fighting.
"The child was pushed into a china cabinet. As the china cabinet broke, [it] cut the 17-year-old on the shoulder," said Hackney.
But when two officers tried to arrest Harris, they say he fought back. Police say he reached for an officer's gun. When he did that, police say another officer pulled his gun and fired seven shots, killing Harris at the scene.
Harris' family and friends say he didn't deserve to die this way. His cousin Kaila Livingston said, "I lost a good cousin that was actually innocent."
They also say Harris didn't do what JSO claims he did.
"No he didn't. No he didn't," said family friend Deborah Meriweather. "And he did not try to take the police's gun, either."
Hackney continues to back his officers.
"The subject's intent to not go back to jail was clear and evident," said Hackney. "And he was serious about the threats that he made. It's by the training and professionalism that these officers have that they are able to make it through these calls. Last night is no exception."
One officer was hurt in the struggle. We're told he suffered a leg injury, but that he will be OK.
Harris had an extensive criminal history. He was arrested on murder charges, once as a 15 year old, and a second arrest as an adult. He had also been arrested for armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary, possession and sale of cocaine and other drug charges and gambling.
The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in all police shootings.
