Baker County deputy kills knife-wielding man accused of holding woman hostage, using them as ‘human shield’

BAKER COUNTY, Fla. – The Baker County Sheriff’s Office said one of its deputies killed a man Thursday night after the man was seen holding a 63-year-old woman hostage with a knife in Sanderson.

According to Sheriff Scotty Rhoden, when deputies showed up to a camper Thursday, they found James Tabbot, 36, had taken the woman hostage and armed himself with a large knife.

Deputies tried to negotiate with the Orange Park man who barricaded himself inside the camper on Friendship Place for “a long period of time,” but he didn’t listen, deputies said.

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After unsuccessful attempts to have the victim released from harm’s way, deputies entered the camper and saw the man holding the victim like a “human shield” with one arm around her throat while holding the large knife beside her head, deputies said.

Tabbot didn’t listen to commands, deputies said, and one deputy fired at him. Tabbot later died, Rhoden said, and no deputies were hurt.

A video shared with News4JAX shows the moment deputies burst into the trailer.

From that video, you can hear the time difference between when deputies made their commands and when the first shot went off. About 3 to 4 seconds go by.

Some neighbors said they don’t think deputies gave Tabbot enough time. But others said how much time can you give someone holding another person a knife point especially when they have a violent past?

Neighbors told News4JAX Tabbot was a nice and gentle person, but court records paint a different picture.

Since 2005, Tabbot has been in and out of jail for burglary, resisting police, grand theft, aggravated and domestic battery and more. Last September he was arrested in Duval County and accused of assaulting his sister and threatening to kill her.

In recent arrests, family members told investigators Tabbot was in a mental health crisis and said he “needs a hospital, not jail.”

Rhoden asked for the community to pray for everyone involved in the “very difficult situation.”

Rhoden said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is the agency responsible for investigating the officer-involved shooting and further information, including body camera video, will be released at FDLE’s discretion.