JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville police officers of all ranks continued Monday to pray for the recovery of one of their own who was shot six times in a gun battle with an 18-year-old shoplifting suspect.
Saturday night, Officer Jared Reston was seriously wounded as he and another officer, both in uniform but off-duty, worked to apprehend two shoplifting suspects near Regency Square Mall.
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Police said 18-year-old Joel Abner pulled a gun and shot Reston several times before the officer fired back, killing Abner.
The second shoplifting suspect, 19-year-old Christopher Smith, was arrested.
Smith's mother said she did not want to talk or appear on camera, but she had a lengthy conversation with reporter Dan Leveton about what happened Saturday night inside the Regency Square Mall and a few hundred yards away in the ditch on Atlantic Boulevard where Reston and Abner were shot.
Her son is charged with petty theft and resisting a merchant for allegedly stealing a T-shirt, but she realizes it could have been much worse.
Smith made his first court appearance on Sunday and was released Monday on $10,000 bond.
Although Smith is back at home, his mother said the 19-year-old has to deal with the fact that his good friend is dead.
She said, "Chris is a good kid and he deeply regrets what happened to Joel and he's dealing with those emotions. It's not that they were just in there, these kids were friends, and Joel himself was not a bad kid."
However, Sheriff John Rutherford disagreed. The sheriff lashed out Monday over the violence on the city's streets, particularly the prevalence of guns and what he described as the ruthlessness of many young lawbreakers.
"I think it's the grace of God," Rutherford said.
That's the only way the sheriff could describe what happened to his officer in what's been described as close quarter combat and a fight for life.
"Here's what scares me the most, not only was he armed, he wanted to murder an officer," Rutherford said.
According to police, Abner didn't stop after shooting Reston in the face. Police said while the officer was lying on the ground, Abner fired his entire 12-shot clip from his .45-caliber Glock, striking Reston five more times before the officer was able to return fire and kill Abner.
Police said the shooting was all over a stolen pair of jeans and a $24 T-shirt Abner and Smith allegedly stole from Belks at the mall.
"Nothing surprises me anymore. As police officer we don't go anywhere without our guns because of stuff like this. I mean, this kid is in that mall shopping and at any point he could've pulled the gun out," said Nelson Cuba, of the Fraternal Order of Police.
According to police, the incident started when the suspects were confronted at Belks about some merchandise. That's when officers said Smith was apprehended and Abner took off running.
Restin chased Abner more than 200 yards before the teen started shooting, police said.
Rutherford said while whether the semiautomatic gun was stolen continues to be investigated, he wants the community to hear this message, "I will pay anyone $1,000. You tell me who that thug is carrying a gun and when we make that arrest and get that gun off the street, we will gladly pay them $1,000."
Although official information about Reston's condition is not being released, Rutherford said the officer's jaw has been wired shut but he is expected to recover.