JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is investigating the ninth police involved shooting of 2012.
JSO says the shooting happened in front of a home at 140 East 5th Street in Springfield at 2:15 a.m. Sunday.
According to JSO Chief Tom Hackney police received 911 calls about a suicidal man with a knife. They soon found out the caller, 41-year-old William Haines, was calling in reference to himself. Police say Haines has a history of making suicidal threats and has been Baker Acted for previous incidents.
When officers arrived at the address they found Haines sitting on the porch of the home armed with a handgun. According to Hackney officers told Haines to drop his weapon. He then stepped toward the officers and raised the gun.
Hackney says Officer B.E. Turner opened fire once, hitting Haines in the chest. Haines was transported to U.F. & Shands Hospital Jacksonville in critical condition. He is currently in critical, but stable, condition.
In a press briefing Sunday afternoon police say Haines's gun was a BB gun with a laser sight attached to it.
Officer Turner and the other officer who responded, Officer J.B. Waddell, have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard JSO procedure after a police involved shooting. This is the first time either officer has been involved in a shooting while on duty.
Haines faces two charges of assault on a law enforcement officer.
