JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Suspects involved in a deadly drug raid in Arlington Wednesday were caught in the middle of cooking crack cocaine when police arrived at the home, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.
JSO said the agency carried out a drug raid at the Century Street home where they seized crack cocaine and multiple firearms, including a shotgun and a rifle.
Jerry Graham, 34, was shot and killed by Officer Nick Rodgers.
JSO said Graham was armed with a loaded handgun, and Rodgers shot Graham five times.
According to JSO records, Graham had a criminal history including battery, armed robbery and drug charges.
"We heard the guns go off," Daniel Schoepke said. "It was just shocking that it happened that close."
Schoepke lives just feet away from where the raid took place and said he had suspected that something illegal might have been going on next door.
"I suspected because there's traffic in and out of that house all the time, but I didn't think it would be like this," Schoepke said. "It's a little close to home."
Police said two boys, a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old, were found in the home but were not hurt.
Latest News Headlines from Action News
"They were nowhere near nor were they in danger when the officers engaged the suspect," JSO Director Mike Bruno said. "They were also taken out of the house before they were able to see anything."
Schoepke said workers from the Florida Department of Children and Families questioned him about the children on Thursday.
"They wanted information about how often traffic goes in the house, like how often the kids stay there and whatnot, and what condition it looked like they're in," Schoepke said.
DCF said it is investigating and the children are now safe.
Police also arrested three others in the house who police said all admitted to having drugs and guns in the home.
"They were cooking crack cocaine in the kitchen," Bruno said. "It was one of our SWAT officers that cut the stove off and basically stopped the cooking of the crack cocaine."
One woman who did not want to speak on camera or give her name told Action News Jax that crime is widespread in the neighborhood and she fears for her life.
"Gunshots all the time and prostitution," the woman said. "When is it ever going to end?"
The woman said she was not surprised by the deadly drug raid.
"You should be shocked by these things," she said. "It shouldn't be just a normal run-of-the-mill day around here, but that's what it is. I hate the end result of it, but I'm just thankful to know that the police presence is strong in the community and that they are trying to do something to help this community heal."