JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An hours-long standoff between Jacksonville police and an armed man barricaded in a truck behind a Walmart on San Pablo Road ended Wednesday night when SWAT officers used gas to force him out, resulting in police shooting the man after he came out holding weapons.
JSO officers were seen with guns drawn, pointing at a truck in the shopping center lot.
The situation began around 11:30 a.m. after the family of Samuel Waters, Jr. called police to report that he was armed and suicidal.
Police found Waters sitting inside a parked truck behind the Walmart when they blocked in his vehicle in an attempt to get him out.
JSO said officers tried calling his cell phone to reach him and spent several hours trying to connect with Waters, but he constantly ignored all of the officers’ commands.
The SWAT team was called to begin negotiations with Waters around 2:30 p.m.
By 3:15 p.m., negotiators were able to give him a phone and spoke with Waters for several more hours, but he still refused to leave the vehicle, making threats to harm himself and others, police said.
Just before 7:30 p.m., the SWAT team decided to break the vehicle’s windows and threw gas in the vehicle, forcing Waters to get out.
A News4JAX crew at the scene heard several pops and observed SWAT vehicles wedging a white truck. Waters was also seen being put on a JFRD stretcher, and police escorted an ambulance away from the scene.
When he climbed through the rear window, officers said he was holding a knife and a gun in each hand. Officers commanded him to drop the weapons, but he did not comply, so he was shot several times, according to JSO.
He was taken to the hospital, where he was being treated for his injuries. JSO said he will be Baker Acted and will also face charges.
According to JSO, on Monday a judge signed an ex parte order, allowing Waters’ family to take action because of his mental health issues and access to guns.
Before the shooting, the judge issued arrest warrants for aggravated assault and domestic violence against his father after the two got into a confrontation on Saturday, where Waters fired a gun, JSO said.
His father was not shot.
This marks the 9th officer-involved shooting this year.
Early Dismissal, traffic rerouted
Earlier, JSO said there was no threat to the public, but drivers were asked to take an alternate route and be patient with other drivers.
Duval County Public Schools confirmed that Alimacani Elementary was on a lockout due to the police activity, but the school is beginning early dismissal.
“Students and staff remain safe, and we want to provide an important traffic update. Police have confirmed that San Pablo Road at Atlantic Boulevard is currently closed due to ongoing police activity in the neighborhood. At this time, the only way to access the school and San Pablo Road is via Beach Boulevard.
To help minimize the impact of heavy congestion, we are opening early dismissal. If you are able to pick up your child early, we ask that you do two things:
- First, if your student is in PreK or CSS, please use the front loop. All other families should use the car line.
- Second, please use PikMyKid to schedule your dismissal time.
We will have front office and security teams outside working to facilitate the early dismissal process. Thank you for your patience and continued support as we work to keep our students and staff safe."
The preschool Isle of Faith United Methodist Church Development Center was on lockdown, but officials said parents could still pick up children. JSO has set up its command center at the church.
Some shoppers in nearby stores were being held inside for their safety. Austin Bailey works nearby and said the experience was terrifying.
“It was definitely terrifying because, like it’s it’s like, wow, this is like super serious,” Bailey said. “You know, we are over here like just thinking, oh, they’re going to get this guy and then he’s going to be on his way so just hearing something like that is definitely like. Wow.”
A viewer sent the image below, which shows police tape at the Walmart exit.