JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A JSO officer was shot and a man was killed during a shooting between the two in Northwest Jacksonville Wednesday morning.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Chief Alan Parker said the officer is expected to be OK.

Parker said witnesses saw a man walking around the Family Dollar, located at 4750 Soutel Dr., shortly before it opened.

Around 8 a.m., witnesses saw a man inside of the store wearing a mask. One witness heard the man say, “Give me the money or I’ll shoot you,” prompting the witness to call police, according to Parker.

An officer then responded to the scene and saw a man matching the description running from the store. Parker said the man didn’t stop when the officer commanded him to, prompting a chase after the suspect on Norfolk Boulevard.

After repeated commands to stop, Parker said the officer eventually caught up to the suspect and apprehended him.

As the officer was taking the suspect to the ground and attempting to secure him, Parker said the suspect moved in a position to fire off two gunshots, hitting the officer once in the leg.

The officer then returned fire, hitting the suspect, before rendering medical aid on his own injuries by applying a tourniquet on his leg, Parker said.

JFRD responded and both the officer and suspect were taken to a local hospital where the suspect later died, Parker said.

The officer is currently stable and is expected to be OK.

Parker identified the officer as Luis Mercado III, a four-year veteran of JSO. Parker said this is Mercado’s first officer-involved incident, and the 10th officer-involved shooting for JSO this year.

Parker did not identify the suspect, but said he had a long list of prior criminal charges, and was released from prison in May 2024.

“If a person will shoot at a policeman for doing his job…he’ll shoot at anyone, so we don’t have to be concerned with him anymore” Sheriff T.K. Waters said.

Norfolk Boulevard at Soutel Drive is closed at this time, according to JSO.