JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The ID of a man shot and killed by a Jacksonville sheriff’s officer Wednesday has been released.
He is 20-year-old Jamari Akins, Jacksonville police said Thursday morning.
Just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, a customer inside Family Dollar on Soutel Drive in the Harborview area overheard a masked gunman threatening a clerk — saying, “Give me your money or I’ll shoot you,” police said.
The customer called 911 and moments later, Jacksonville Officer Mercado spotted the suspect, Jamari Akins, on Norfolk Boulevard and chased him on foot. JSO said the officer tackled the suspect, but while they were on the ground, Akins fired two shots, striking Mercado in the leg.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
The officer returned fire, striking Akins who was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Mercado was treated and released from the hospital Wednesday.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
