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Man taken into custody following exchange of gunfire with officers, Jacksonville police say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man was apprehended and taken into custody Sunday evening following an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant Chief Shawn Coarsey, with the Sheriff’s Office, said officers were called to a home on Edgewood Avenue at about 4:45 p.m.

“The caller stated that this subject was armed with a firearm and wanted to basically get into a shootout with a law enforcement officer in order to kill himself,” Coarsey said.

Officers got to the scene, Coarsey said, and were met with gunfire.

“As they were exiting the vehicle, that subject came out of the residence and fired at least five rounds at those officers, striking one of their cars. They took cover and that individual ran back into the house,” Coarsey said.

He said a drone officer flew over the home, showing what appeared to be the man armed with a handgun standing just inside the front door.

“The subject would retreat back into the house and then come back to the front door,” Coarsey said. “On two separate occasions he stepped to the threshold of that door, and on each occasion one officer fired one shot at that subject.”

According to Coarsey, the man was not struck by the gunfire. He said that, eventually, two other people who were inside the house were able to escape.

Officers were attempting to speak with the man via telephone and loudspeaker, Coarsey said, and eventually he was taken into custody after exiting the residence, unarmed.

The man was identified as John Ervin, 34. Coarsey said he has a criminal history and would be facing charges in Sunday’s incident.

No injuries were reported.


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