News Summary
A 69-year-old man was shot and killed by Jacksonville police following a traffic accident that escalated into a standoff. The incident began after a collision involving the man, who was armed and expressed suicidal intentions, prompting police intervention. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, officers discharged their weapons after the man posed a threat to a nearby bicyclist. The man later died at a hospital, and the officers involved marked their first police-related shooting. The case remains under investigation.
Jacksonville – A 69-year-old man was shot and killed by Jacksonville police officers on Saturday evening after a traffic accident that escalated into a standoff. The confrontation occurred around 6 p.m. at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and I-295, following a crash that left the other involved parties with minor injuries.
Initial reports indicate that the incident began when a woman driving a Toyota Camry collided with an SUV driven by the man after he allegedly ran a red light. The woman, accompanied by her two children aged 7 and 10, had just received a green light to turn when the crash occurred. After the collision, witnesses observed the man exiting his vehicle and giving the woman a thumbs up. However, he soon began to wander near the scene and reportedly expressed intentions to harm himself while holding a firearm.
Police officers were alerted to the situation, arriving on the scene to attempt negotiations with the man. They engaged him for approximately 20 minutes, but he did not respond to their efforts to de-escalate the situation. Tension escalated when a bicyclist approached the area, causing the man to turn towards him while still holding the gun. Concerned for the safety of the bicyclist, officers felt compelled to intervene, resulting in them discharging their weapons at the man.
The man was swiftly taken to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. The police chief later confirmed that both the woman and her children were treated for minor injuries and did not require further medical attention.
The deceased man has not been officially identified, but it was reported that he had a troubling history, which included five prior convictions for driving under the influence (DUIs) and a license that had been permanently revoked in 2024. Authorities noted that there were no documented mental health issues recorded before the incident.
Following the shooting, the officers involved were identified as Greg Hernandez, with six years of service with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), and Zacharey Slatowski, who has been with the JSO for four and a half years. This incident marked their first involvement in a police-related shooting.
In the aftermath, Beach Boulevard was closed for several hours to allow for an investigation, but it has since been reopened. The event marks the 12th police-involved shooting in Jacksonville this year, with six of those incidents resulting in fatalities.
The incident remains under investigation, and further details may emerge as authorities continue to gather information. Community members are encouraged to remain informed about the ongoing developments surrounding this case as it unfolds.
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Additional Resources
- Jacksonville.com: Police Shooting Closes Beach Boulevard
- First Coast News: JSO Press Conference After Shooting
- Action News Jax: Update on Officer Involved Shooting
- News4Jax: Beach Boulevard Closed Due to Police Activity
- WOKV: JSO Investigating Officer Involved Shooting
- Wikipedia: Jacksonville
- Google Search: Jacksonville police shooting
- Google Scholar: Jacksonville police shooting
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Jacksonville
- Google News: Jacksonville police shooting
