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JSO officer shoots 14-year-old boy armed with airsoft gun

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says a 14-year-old boy was shot by a JSO officer late Friday.

The shooting occurred after the boy reportedly pointed an airsoft gun at an officer who was investigating a 911 call at the Maple Crest Apartments on Harts Road on Jacksonville's Northside.

JSO says it received two calls Friday around 10:15 p.m. about a prowler armed with a BB or pellet gun firing at an apartment window. The first officer who responded to the scene didn't see a suspect or damage to the property and left the scene around 10:49 p.m.

About a 30 minutes later, two-year veteran officer Josh Livingood was dispatched to the same address after a second call about a prowler.

As the officer was investigating, police say the complainant spotted the suspect about 25 feet away and identified him as the person firing pellets.

As requested by Livingood, the suspect stopped and showed his hands. But the officer said things began to change rapidly as he approached the teen and that within a matter of seconds the confrontation led to shots fired.

According to JSO, the suspect dropped his hands, lifted his shirt, pulled what appeared to be a handgun from the waistband of his pants and pointed it at the officer. Police say the officer felt threatened by both the weapon and a perceived change in the suspect's demeanor.

After giving what JSO describes as "loud verbal directions" to put down the weapon, Livingood drew his own pistol and fired six shots. One of those shots hit the teen in the leg. He was transported to UF Health for treatment.

The suspect's weapon turned out to be an airsoft pistol with the orange tip intact.

Livingood was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. Two separate investigations will determine whether charges will be filed against either the suspect or the officer.

Police say the teen didn't live in the apartment complex but was known to them. JSO records show eight mental health contacts with the suspect, seven of which resulted in his being hospitalized for what his family reportedly describes as a "minor developmental and psychiatric disorder."