Man shot by Jacksonville police after hours-long SWAT standoff near San Pablo Road, Atlantic Blvd.
A man is recovering in the hospital after being shot by a Jacksonville officer Wednesday following an hours-long standoff near the Walmart Neighborhood Market parking lot at Atlantic Boulevard and San Pablo Road.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Samuel Waters Jr. Police say he was suicidal and armed.
The standoff, which began around 11:30 a.m., caused traffic delays, blocked roads and caused a nearby elementary school to go into lockdown for several hours.
Shoppers inside the Walmart Neighborhood Market were locked inside for their safety, JSO said.
Around 7:30 p.m., Action News Jax saw smoke near the car, heard gunshots and saw an ambulance arrive on scene a few minutes later.
At a press briefing, Sheriff TK Waters said that after hours of negotiations and after using tear gas to force the suspect out of the car, he emerged with a gun in one hand and a knife in the other.
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“They were trying to get him out using gasoline and other means to get him out of the vehicle. Unfortunately, he came out with a knife in one hand and a gun in the other. It left him no choice,” said Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters.
He says it started around 11:30 Wednesday morning. After being alerted by Waters’ family members that he was inside the car with a gun, they contacted police. JSO says that on May 4, a judge signed an order citing Waters’ mental health issues and his access to a weapon.
Multiple agencies, including JSO, DCPS and a SWAT team, worked to bring the situation under control.
Action News Jax spoke to a man who works at Walmart. He said he had seen the truck parked there for at least a week.
“This white truck has been there for at least a week. I noticed it, left work Monday at 10 p.m. and it was there at that time,” said Michael Brainard.
He said he was on hold for hours.
“I was coming to work at 1:00 p.m. and they had San Pablo blocked off, so I had to turn around and go back and go around Hodges. They blocked him off at all the entrances,” Brainard said.
He says police have been patient with the situation.
“The police were extremely patient. They were very careful and made sure everyone was OK. When we were there, they made sure we were behind the building, so that if any shots were fired, because the officers had rifles chained on them, we wouldn’t be in the line of fire.”
Water will face charges related to a previous warrant. JSO says he has a history of aggravated assault.
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