Florida police officer shot in face by suspect outside hospital: sheriff
Florida police officer shot twice by suspect, sheriff says
An officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was shot by a suspect while in the parking lot of a Baptist Health hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, Tuesday night, according to Sheriff TK Waters. Other officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A Florida police officer was shot in the face by a suspect outside a hospital Tuesday night, officials said.
The officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) was taken to a hospital in critical condition, Sheriff TK Waters said in a news conference, which was posted on Facebook overnight.
Waters said security at Baptist Health South was made aware of a suspicious vehicle and called for backup when the suspect began driving around the parking lot at a high speed.
Eventually, the suspect, who was not immediately identified, shot outside his back window, striking a police officer, Waters said. Five police officers at the scene returned fire, killing the suspect.
The shooting marked the third JSO officer to be shot and fifth officer-involved shooting of 2023.
The officers involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol.
An investigation is ongoing.