JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Shots were fired, but no one was struck by gunfire as federal agents attempted to serve a search warrant Thursday evening in the Woodland Acres neighborhood, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
T.K. Waters, chief of investigations at the Sheriff’s Office, said agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were conducting a search warrant at a home on Cocoa Avenue at approximately 1:40 p.m.
“When they arrived at the house, a gentleman outside the house picked up a handgun pointed at the ATF agents,” Waters said. He said the ATF agents then fired.
When asked if the man fired a shot, Waters said that was still under investigation.
No one was struck by gunfire, Waters said, and three men were taken into custody.
Waters said agents were at the home as part of a federal firearms investigation, but additional details were not given. During the news briefing, Waters said agents were still working to finish executing the warrant.
As the evening went on, agents were seen removing multiple boxes of items from the home.
Charles Allphin, an ATF spokesperson from the Tampa office, which overseas ATF operations in Jacksonville, said this is an example of how dangerous it is for agents doing their job.
“It is the mission of the ATF to investigate criminal activity as it occurs, and unfortunately, sometimes situations do arise where gunfire occurs,” Allphin said. “It is our goal to protect citizens and ensure prohibited persons or felons in possession of firearms are not in possession and stop gun trafficking.”
After the scene was secured following the gunfire, Drug Enforcement Administration agents were called in as a neutral law enforcement agency to help ATF agents with their investigation since JSO was called in to investigate the gunfire.
ATF officials are expected to be in the Woodland Acres neighborhood Friday as the investigation continues.