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Jacksonville police investigating officer-involved shooting on W. 32nd Street

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says it is investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened Thursday night in the 1100 block of W. 32nd Street.

At 8:45 p.m., officers were in the area working overtime for the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, according to Undersheriff Pat Ivey.

One of those officers saw a vehicle speeding and screeching its tires and initiated a traffic stop. The officer put his blue lights on and the driver did not immediately pull over, Ivey said. After the officer hit his air horn, the suspect pulled over. 

Upon stopping, the driver exited the car and the officer gave him commands to get back in the car. After that, Ivey said other commands were given, something transpired and the officer fired his weapon twice.

The primary officer rendered first aid to the suspect, Ivey said. JSO will be talking to two witness officers and potential civilian witnesses to determine what led up to the shooting. The officer has not given a statement yet; normally, a statement is not taken immediately, Ivey said.

The officer's weapon and two shell casings were recovered and will be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for processing by its forensics lab. No weapon has been recovered from the suspect at this time, Ivey said. 

Investigators will also be looking at a grassy vacant lot near the location of the traffic stop to look for potential evidence. Portable lighting was brought in to illuminate the area.

The suspect, who is believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was hit in the upper body and taken to UF Health Jacksonville. At last check, he was still in surgery. Ivey said the suspect was the only one in the car.

The officer involved in the shooting is 42 years old and is a 9-year veteran of JSO and has not been involved in an officer-involved shooting previously, Ivey said. The officer will be placed on administrative leave per JSO policy.

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