JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Twenty four hours after two robbery detectives shot and killed a man they said pointed a gun at them after holding up a Southside convenience store, police identified the robbery suspect and gave some details about the police-involved shooting.
Police said that two undercover officers were watching the Gate station at the corner of Atlantic and Century 21 Drive just before 10 a.m. Saturday when they saw Jessie Cooper go inside, rob the clerk and come out with a bag of money.
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They said when Cooper tried to get away in an SUV, he was confronted by the two plain-clothes officers.
"The suspect began backing up away from them and pointed a gun at them through the windshield. Both officers opened fire," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Director of Investigations Dwain Senterfitt.
Witnesses told Channel 4 they heard multiple shots. Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene.
The officers -- identified as robbery detectives Clement G. Nieto and Michael N. Padgett -- were not hurt.
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Police said they arrested Shaketa Jones, 28, at a nearby parking lot shortly after the shooting and charged her with armed robbery and murder.
Officers believe that Jones was an accomplice to the robbery and is therefore legally responsible for the death that occurred.
Records show that Cooper, 28, had prior arrests for possession of drugs and traffic offenses, but none for a violent crime.
Senterfitt said the Gate location was being staked out by detectives after two recent robberies of area convenience stores.