'He grew up with my son:' Sheriff knew young suspect in deputy-involved shooting

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Photos: Man, 20, shot by deputy in Bradford County, authorities say

Bradford County Sheriff says a 20-year-old man was shot and killed after a pursuit in Starke Tuesday.

Sheriff Gordon Smith said deputies were called to 137th Terrace in Starke Monday night after shots were fired into an occupied home.

Smith said someone called 911 Tuesday saying someone inside a gray Mercury Marquis was firing shots at the same house.

Smith said after the house was shot up, a sergeant and officer-in-training saw a car matching the description of the car and a pursuit ensued through Starke.

Smith said another deputy joined the chase and the suspect's car came to a stop near the RJE Center on the east side of Starke.

Smith said one of the occupants got out of the car and produced a firearm.

Two deputies fired at the suspect, killing him, the sheriff said.

The driver of the car, Jaylon Hankerson, was taken into custody and deputies are searching for a third person, Smith said.

Smith said he knew the 20-year-old who was shot and killed well. He identified him as Davaughdre Rogers.

"He grew up with my son and my daughter and spent lots of time at my house. Fishing, playing ball," Smith said. "My undersheriff was his mentor in the Take Stock in Children Program in high school."

"I don't know what happened in his later teenage years. He has a great mother. And my heart goes out to his family and the people in this community it's touched," he said.

Smith said no deputies were injured in the shooting.

Smith said the deputies involved in the shooting are Sergeant Russell Gordon, an almost 9-year veteran with the agency, and Deputy Sheriff Jeffrey Smith, who had been a deputy with Bradford County for a little over a year.

"They go out there and protect our community each and every day. I promise you those men are as touched by this incident as the rest of us are in this community," Smith said.

He said the sheriff's office will leave no stone unturned in the investigation into the shooting. He said there is body and dash cam footage from the incident.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is taking the lead in the investigation.

"Stop with the rumors and gossip. We want nothing but the truth and as sheriff I owe that to my community. It's a tragic set of events and we'll pull together and love each other through it," he said.

Action News Jax @AmberANjax is on the scene. Watch FOX30 at 10 for the latest details.

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