Retired Jacksonville officer recalls being shot in 2001 while chasing bank robbers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As Officer Jeremy Mason recovers from his injuries, we’re hearing from a retired Jacksonville sheriff's officer who was also shot in the line of duty in a very similar incident more than 15 years ago.

Some of the bullets that hit Eric Simmons’ patrol car were near misses. Simmons said watching the news unfold Tuesday brought back all the memories from Dec. 7, 2001.

“That was definitely a life-changing incident. It changes the way you respond to everyday situations,” Simmons said.

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Photos of his patrol car show it was riddled with bullet holes. Simmons was sitting inside when the hail of gunfire started.

“I didn't get the opportunity to draw my weapon during this incident because I was pretty much pinned down in my patrol car under fire of an AK47,” Simmons said.

He was responding to a robbery at a credit union on Edgewood Avenue. He was the first officer to arrive and began chasing the suspects.

“They fired probably more than 40 shots from that assault rifle and only one hit me,” Simmons said.

That single bullet hit his right thigh, traveled through it, and went back out.

“The worst pain I had ever experienced in life,” Simmons said. “While I was ducking, there was one bullet that hit dead center of the seat back that would've been fatal had I been sitting up.”

His experience was similar to what happened Tuesday, as both he and Mason were chasing after suspected bank robbers.

Simmons said family will be key to Mason’s recovery.

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“The support of a family and that's what helped me get through it,” Simmons said.

After more than 15 years, Simmons still holds on to the photos of his patrol car as a reminder of how close he came to death.

“I've had people say, ‘Man, you were really lucky.’ Luck had nothing to do with it that morning. I was blessed. I was covered and I’m still here,” Simmons said.

Simmons said that was the only time he had been shot at during his 25-year career with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. He retired shortly after that.

The suspects who shot at him got away, but were caught two weeks later. Simmons said both are serving life sentences.

Cox Media Group