Suspect in Green Cove Springs hostage standoff identified by police

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — The Green Cove Springs Police Department has identified Lancy Keenon, 44, of Palatka as the suspect involved in an hours-long hostage standoff Saturday evening.

According to GCSPD, the caller reported Keenon was holding a female victim at gunpoint and that there were possible shots fired at the Speedway gas station on Leonard C. Taylor Parkway.

GCSPD arrived on the scene and were able to clear the store of any unknown victims and the store clerk, and managed to get the suspect and his victim confined to a small area of the store.

Then members of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office negotiations team and SWAT team joined GCSPD in an attempt to deescalate the situation.

The GCSPD said at some point during negotiations a member of the CCSO SWAT team shot Keenon as he was holding a weapon. The victim was recovered unharmed, and the suspect was transported to the hospital for treatment Saturday night.

Sunday morning, Keenon was charged by GCSPD with armed kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony.

As of Sunday afternoon, the suspect is still in the hospital, according to GCSPD.

The GCSPD is the lead agency on the hostage investigation, but the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the deputy-involved shooting for the sheriff’s office.

TRENDING STORIES:

First case of omicron variant in Georgia confirmed

JSO one shot dead inside a car in Jacksonville Heights

JSO: Young child dies after wandering from home, drowning in neighbor’s pool in Oak Haven area

©2021 Cox Media Group