JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released a dramatic bodycam video of a patrol officer springing into action to help a toddler who was shot in December.
The 2-year-old was struck in the leg while watching TV when multiple shots were fired outside his home on Dec. 11, 2023.
That’s when JSO patrol officer Walter Umland rushed to the home on Mount Hermon Street after hearing the gunshots while he and another officer were conducting a traffic stop nearby.
When officers arrived, a woman was heard screaming, “Please help me!”
Then, you hear the toddler crying in pain. He was in critical condition, and Umland couldn’t afford to wait for paramedics to arrive.
So, he took matters into his own hands.
“Open up. We’re going straight to the hospital,” the officer said in the video.
The child arrived at the hospital in time for doctors to stabilize his condition.
“I heard 10 to 15 gunshots going off. It sounded like an exchange of gunshots between two parties. My Lieutenant and I went to the immediate area where we heard the gunshots. And I could hear screaming from inside a residence,” Umland said.
Umland also detailed what it took to jump into quick action to save the toddler’s life.
“I put on some gloves. I ran outside with the child while holding pressure. I told additional officers I needed to take the child to the hospital,” he said. “Get on the radio and, let them know to have emergency medical personnel at the emergency entrance. [...] I ran in there and handed the child over to the medical professionals and told them there was a 2-year-old with gunshot wounds.”
The incident happened eight months ago, and the toddler survived, and Umland was awarded a life-saving award for his quick actions.
There have been no arrests made in the case.
If you have any information that can lead to an arrest, call 904-630-0500.