Jacksonville officers shot: Difference between weapons used

Two Jacksonville Sheriff's officers are in serious condition after trading gunfire with a suicidal man Friday night.

On Monday, Action News Jax’s cameras went inside Basics: Range and Gun in Orange Park to learn the differences in the guns officers used to respond to the call compared to the suspect’s high-powered rifle.

Investigators told us officers were faced head-on with a rifle that is used to shoot up to five football fields away. JSO said this gunfire exchange between the officers and the suspect was within four feet.

Basics Range and Gun manager Jeff DesJardins told us there are significant differences between a handgun and a high-powered rifle.

“Your Glock or standard pistol would be your small caliber, like .9mm for example, it will be a shorter, fatter type of projectile. A high-powered rifle or .223 would be a narrower, sharper-looking projectile that travels at a greater rate and has a lot more energy behind it,” Jeff DesJardins said.

A high-powered rifle shoots much farther than a handgun that’s meant for close range.

“You have your primer which ignites the powder inside your case and the projectile,” DesJardins said.

Sheriff Mike Williams told us the Glock is what JSO officers Michael Fox and Kevin Jarrell had when they encountered Derrick Brabham, 25, who was threatening to kill himself and others.

“To be able to perform the way they did under that kind of stress is tremendous,” Mike Williams said.

JSO said Barbham fired an M&P15 rifle using a .223 caliber round, causing serious injuries to their officers. Kevin Jarrell was shot in the abdomen and Michael Fox was struck in the hands.

Desjardins explained to us that at close range, most bullet proof vests can’t stop a rifle projectile.

“This one (handgun) if you’re wearing a bullet proof vest it’s still going to hurt, but it’s stoppable with a bullet proof vest. This one (rifle) is coming out a lot hotter and faster,” Desjardins said.

Williams said Jerrell’s body armor isn’t designed to stop a rifle gunshot.

“If you can imagine you have a rifle injury to your abdomen area – it’s a significant injury. He’s got a long road back – he really does,” said Williams.

Desjardins told us the .9mm bullet is larger, but has a lower speed of a projectile. He said the rifle shoots a narrow looking projectile, which has significantly more power and velocity than a Glock at close range.

The community is gathering around to show their support for these JSO officers through two GoFundMe accounts. In less than 24 hours, more than $10,000 has been raised.

Cox Media Group