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Police say they responded to a 911 caller saying the man had punched his pregnant girlfriend while armed with a gun.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Tuesday, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released body-worn camera footage showing the moments leading up to and following a deadly police shooting last month.
The footage from March 30 shows Jacksonville officers opening fire on a suspect, 28-year-old Alquan Suydam, who was shot and killed after appearing to point a gun at officers.
Police were initially called to the scene after a 911 caller reported that the man had punched his pregnant girlfriend while armed with a gun.
The footage from one of the officers shows him exiting his vehicle and immediately making contact with Suydam. Officers can be heard shouting, “Let me see your hands,” and ordering him to get on the ground. Seconds later, shots are fired.
The officer yells “Shots fired” multiple times. The video then shows a gun in Suydam’s hand and appears to show him pointing it at the officer.
Body-worn camera footage from another JSO officer shows Suydam after he was shot.
Officers are heard telling him to “stay right there,” roll onto his stomach, and show his hands. Suydam responds, saying his hands are “right here.”
Officers then begin asking Suydam where he was hit.
One officer goes to his car to retrieve a medical bag, and officers begin rendering aid.
According to police, Suydam later died at the hospital.
First Coast News Crime & Safety Expert Ken Jefferson analyzed the footage. He said he believes the officers acted within protocol and were operating under the sheriff’s office’s standard operating procedures.
“They knew he punched his pregnant girlfriend,” Jefferson said. “They knew he had a gun, which means now he’s dangerous.”
He continued, “My opinion is that the officers acted within protocol. They knew what they were going into. They were prepared for it. They were trying to approach this individual, but when they saw him, he had his hands in his pockets.”
Jefferson said the officers were left with no options once Suydam revealed the gun.
“When he pulled his hand out, he pulled out a gun. The officers told him to drop the gun, and he pointed it at them. The officers had no other choice, no other remedy for that situation, than to use deadly force at that particular time.”
The full video is below. It may be disturbing.