A Jacksonville veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is recovering in the hospital after being shot by police on the Wonderwood Bridge.
Action News Jax first told you about the officer-involved shooting on Friday, after the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Steven Smith walked toward officers while holding a loaded gun pointed at his own head.
Man shot by #JSO on Wonderwood Bridge on Friday is Steven Smith, Marine Corps vet who suffers from PTSD. Has service dog to help w/ symptoms pic.twitter.com/6sJkVQRhaD
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) November 6, 2017
Action News Jax has interviewed Smith several times this year about his PTSD, his struggles with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and more.
Smith served eight years in the Marine Corps.
Man shot by #JSO on Wonderwood Bridge on Friday is Steven Smith, vet who got surgery he needed in June when I called VA, after waiting weeks pic.twitter.com/CSIcLOayAY
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) November 6, 2017
He was involuntarily committed to a mental hospital in 2014 after his wife reported she thought he was suicidal.
Smith said in January it was a misunderstanding, denying he was suicidal.
“No, not at all. I think what I had said was, if anything happens, take care of my dog,” Smith said.
Smith’s service dog Rebel helps him manage his PTSD symptoms.
“He’ll jump up on my lap, put his paws on my chest to try to calm me down,” Smith said.
The City of Jacksonville confirmed Smith was a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department fire/rescue communications officer for six months, ending in 2015.
Smith is now the president of River City Search and Rescue.
In June, Smith got kidney surgery he'd been waiting on for weeks after Action News Jax called the VA asking questions.
In September, Smith was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer and domestic battery after his wife called JSO to their house to investigate a possible suicide attempt.
JSO documents said when Smith was in jail, he tried to hang himself.
On Friday, JSO said Smith knocked over mail boxes and a light pole in his neighborhood, then crashed a gray Ford Explorer on the Wonderwood Bridge.
When officers arrived, JSO said Smith got out of the car and walked toward them while pointing a loaded gun at his own head.
“There’s something that specifically triggers that -- an acute event that triggers the mechanism that post-traumatic stress causes to the brain and they react accordingly. And in many instances, that’s violent,” Five Star Veterans Center CEO Col. Len Loving said.
JSO has not charged Smith with any crimes yet.
He is expected to recover from his injuries.
If you or someone you know is suffering from PTSD and is ready to get help, here are some resources:
• U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), press 1 for Veterans
• VA PTSD program locator: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/PTSD.asp
• Five Star Veterans Center: http://5starveteranscenter.org/
Cox Media Group
