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An officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office used a Taser before discharging his firearm multiple times at a suspect.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a dramatic turn of events Tuesday night, two officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office fatally shot a man accused of repeatedly driving a stolen vehicle. The incident occurred during a foot pursuit, as confirmed by the authorities.
The confrontation took place on Kaleel Road.
According to the sheriff’s office, at approximately 11:15 p.m., members of the Patrol Task Force, operating in unmarked vehicles, spotted 52-year-old Michael Wayne Jones inside a vehicle reportedly stolen. The vehicle was located near the intersection of 61st Street and Main Street.
Jones had previously been observed in the same stolen vehicle two weeks earlier. During that earlier encounter, he managed to escape, and officers noted that he was armed at the time.
After locating Jones in the stolen vehicle Tuesday, JSO said undercover units called for marked patrol cars to follow him. Officers continued to follow him to Kaleel Road. Once there, JSO said Jones turned off the vehicle’s lights and pulled into a driveway.
He then exited the vehicle and ran away from the car, JSO said. As officers chased after him, Sergeant M. Howell reportedly deployed his Taser twice at Jones. JSO said it is unknown at this time if the probes made contact with him.
After the Taser was deployed, JSO said Jones pulled out a handgun, prompting Sergeant Howell and Officer. M. Higginbotham to fire multiple shots at him.
According to JSO, Jones died at the scene.
This marks as the 4th officer-involved-shooting in 2026 for JSO. Once the State Attorney’s Office completes its investigation, JSO will conduct its own.