JSO: Man killed in Brentwood officer-involved shooting

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man is dead after a police-involved shooting in the Brentwood area Sunday afternoon, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Around 3:50 p.m., Mark Romano, JSO's director of investigations and homeland security, said a black sedan stopped at the intersection of 27th Street and Main Street.

Romano said surveillance video and witnesses told police a man got out of the passenger side door of the vehicle and ran away. At the same time, the driver's side door opened and “there was some sort of struggle between the driver and an individual sitting in the back seat.”

The driver, a 30-year-old man, then began shooting several times into the vehicle, according to Romano.

“Almost simultaneously,” a police officer in the area saw the man shooting at the vehicle, then fired several shots at the suspect, hitting him.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responded and took the suspect to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The person in the backseat was not shot, Romano said, but was also taken to the hospital, not for a “gun-related incident.”

Police said another vehicle was hit by gunfire during the incident, but no one else was injured.

Multiple units are on scene, speaking with witnesses and gathering additional evidence.

The prosecution was also on site to conduct its investigation.

“This is the third police incident of the year,” Romano said.

The officer who fired the shots was Brian Rone, who has worked for JSO for 16 years. This was his first officer-involved shooting, according to Romano.

Police are searching for the man who fled the vehicle for questioning. Romano said images of the man will be released so the community can help identify him.

“We just need to identify this person and talk to them,” he added.

Romano called the situation “fluid” and said investigators would “get to the bottom of it over time.”

“We’re just trying to piece the puzzle together and figure it all out,” Romano said. “And I want to point out that one of the big pieces of the puzzle is the person who fled that vehicle.”

Main Street will be closed for hours while law enforcement investigates, police said.

Romano added that JSO would investigate the shooting.

News from the First Coast Crime and security expert Ken Jefferson says deadly force was an appropriate response to the situation.

“You don't have time to order him to drop the gun because he's already fired the gun. Who’s to say he won’t turn around and try to shoot you too,” Jefferson said.

Anyone with information regarding this shooting is asked to contact JSO's non-emergency number at (904) 630-0500, email [email protected] or call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1- 866-845-TIPS to remain anonymous.