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In an alarming incident on Arlex Drive, a home invasion turned violent as the homeowner shot an intruder who then made a getaway in the victim’s vehicle, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Authorities are delving into a home invasion case that escalated into a shooting. Police reports indicate that they rushed to the scene on Arlex Drive, near Merrill Road, shortly after 12:40 p.m. following a report of gunfire.
The homeowner, a man reportedly in his 70s, recounted a harrowing encounter. He stated that the suspect broke into his residence through a back window while armed with a firearm. The intruder allegedly forced the homeowner into a rear bedroom, coercing him to surrender his car keys and other possessions.
In a twist of fate, the victim managed to seize his own weapon while confined to the bedroom and fired at the suspect, striking him in the shoulder. Despite the injury, the assailant escaped the premises, commandeering the victim’s car in the process.
While in the bedroom, the victim said he was able to grab a gun and managed to shoot the suspect once in the shoulder. The suspect reportedly fled the home after being injured and drove off in the victim’s car.
JSO says police were able to find the suspect inside the vehicle approximately 30 minutes later, just a couple miles away; he was taken into custody on Fort Caroline Road, near Jacksonville University.
The scene was spotted by one witness, Brandon Meredith, who was driving along University Boulevard.
“Everyone had their tasers drawn,” Meredith told First Coast News. “They’re moving up in a special kind of formation on the back of the car, heard a pop, they grabbed him and pulled him out, put him on the ground, and EMS was tending to him, and they had the intersection shut down for about two hours while this whole thing unfolded.”
The suspect, who has not yet been publicly identified, was taken to a hospital by first responders for the gunshot wound, JSO says, and is now in police custody.
Witnesses like Meredith say they’re glad no one was killed in the incident, and that the suspect was quickly captured.
“Just glad to have another one, another one of these guys off the streets,” Meredith said.
Anyone with information on the incident that could help in the investigation is encouraged to contact JSO at 904-630-0500. Anonymous tips are also welcome through Crime Stoppers.