Protesters react to police-involved shooting

Demonstration took place in Northwest Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – According to police, 22-year-old Devanta Jones was strangling his girlfriend when they were called to Cleveland Arms Apartments Sunday morning.

Police said Jones ran off and wrestled a Taser from an officer. Police say the officer gave Jones multiple chances to comply but he didn't and that officer shot him four times.

Jones is recovering in the hospital and is facing several charges including domestic battery, resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer.

In response to the shooting, a community in Northwest Jacksonville took to the streets to speak out about what they feel is a continuous problem between the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the African-American community.

Demonstrators took to the street with signs that said "stop police crimes" and "heroes don't kill," a message the demonstrators want to get across to police.

"The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office must stop the practice of shooting first and asking questions later," Ben Frasier, one of the protest organizers said.

Frasier and many of the protesters feel police used unnecessary force but in this case, JSO said Jones took the officer's Taser and gave them no choice.

"Mr. Jones made a conscious decision to say you know what, I'm not going to put my hands behind my back, I'm not going to be handcuffed, I'm going to run and despite you telling me time after time after time to give up. What a normal law-abiding citizen would do, he chose not to do," director Tom Hackney of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said.

Police also said that Jones' girlfriend, Katrina Oliver, told them Jones "pushed her in the face" and that "she didn't feel safe because the suspect was so angry." But it's a story she says she doesn't remember.

"I was not strangled out. By no means was we having a verbal altercation," Oliver said.

Ellen Siler with The Hubbard House, a group dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence, said that there is the possibility of domestic violence victims retracting their statements.

"Victims of domestic violence are often acting out of fear. So when the police come, they're kind of afraid of what the consequences are going to be because of the police coming if the person gets arrested," Siler said.

Even with the arrest of Jones, the Northwest community said they will continue to rally against any shootings in their neighborhood.