JSO: Teen shot by officer had gun

No officers were hurt; driver of suspect vehicle got away

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An officer investigating a report of a double shooting in Northwest Jacksonville just after midnight shot a 19-year-old suspect running from the scene.

The suspect, identified as Criss Coleman, was taken to UF Health Jacksonville with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said none of their officers were hurt.

JSO Chief Tom Hackney said the incident started as a call into a shooting on Winton Drive. They were looking for a suspect in a black car and at least two victims. Police could not find any victims.

About 10 minutes later, police found what they believed to be the crime scene off Cavalier Drive, near Ribault High School. They found shell casings at that site consistent with a recent shooting. 

During the investigation, police said a black car drove by. They believed this to be the same black car connected with the shooting. Officers followed the car, which started a brief chase. Police said the men in the car started throwing things out of the window, including a car seat.

Eventually, Coleman who was in the passenger seat, got out of the car and started running. That's when the Jacksonville police officer started following him. The officer said he believed Coleman had a firearm.

The two eventually went behind a home in a wooded area. Officer Matt Hice shot at the suspect four times. Coleman was hit in the lower leg. Coleman was then caught by responding officers and taken to UF Health for observation. 

JSO says a gun that was in Coleman's possession was recovered.

Hice was not injured. This is Hice's second police-involved shooting in his six years with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The suspect was not hit in the previous shooting. Per protocol, Hice is placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation.

Investigators said they recovered a gun in the search, a Hi-Point 9mm gun. The driver of the black car got away. 

The two victims shot in the original shooting were identified as Tristan Tarber, 18, and Diyon Wilcox, 20.  Hackney said the two admitted they were in the area to sell marijuana.

The investigation is ongoing. Charges will be filed at a later date pending the investigation.