JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE: 10:20 AM: A 23-year-old man is dead and a Jacksonville sheriff’s officer is recovering after being shot in his leg Wednesday morning.
Police were dispatched to a Family Dollar in the Northwest part of the city on Soutel Drive near Norfolk Boulevard just after 8 a.m. in response to an armed robbery, police said.
A worker at the store told police a man wearing a mask and armed with a gun demanded money from a clerk, police said at a news conference. A description of the gunman was given and he was spotted on Norfolk Boulevard by JSO Officer Louis Mercado, police said.
Mercado chased the man on foot and attempted to arrest him. While the Mercado was on top the suspect, the man fired two shots at the officer striking him once in the leg, police said.
Mercado returned fire striking the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Mercado put a turnicut on his wound and was taken to the hospital.
END UPDATE:
UPDATE 9:20 a.m.: Two people have been taken to the hospital and one is in serious condition, according to Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has called the matter an “officer-involved incident” which occurred before 9 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Norfolk Boulevard and Soutel Drive on the city’s Northwest side.
Sheriff T.K. Waters has arrived at scene and will be addressing the media, but a time has not yet been given.
JSO closed off Soutel Drive and is asking the public to avoid the area.
“We’ll provide updates to the public as soon as we are able. Please avoid the area as we investigate.” JSO stated in a post on social media.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is on scene of an officer-involved incident on Soutel Drive in District 6. We’ll provide updates to the public as soon as we are able. Please avoid the area as we investigate.
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) July 9, 2025
END UPDATE
Action News Jax received reports of a Jacksonville Sheriff’s officer involved in a shooting on Norfolk Boulevard Wednesday morning.
This story will keep updating as we receive more details.
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