JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One building of a Southside apartment complex was evacuated for nearly five hours hours Friday after police checking on a suicidal man find him dead and suspicious items inside his apartment, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Officers called to the Sola Apartments on West Gateway Parkway, near St. Vincent's Medical Center Southside, entered the apartment about 7 a.m.
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"The officers on scene, when they arrived inside the apartment, discovered the deceased individual. At the same time, they were seeing things that made them think they needed to get out of that building," Public Information Officer Chris Hancock said.
The JSO's hazardous materials team was called to investigate.
Hancock said they believe the man's death was a suicide, but that investigation is on hold until the scene is rendered safe.
"In an abundance of caution we have evacuated that entire building ... while the hazardous material unit does their job and try to figure out what we have," Hancock said.
UNCUT: PIO Hancock briefing from scene
Just before noon, police the announced the scene was safe and allowed residents back into the building. They have not announced the nature of what was found in the apartment that prompted the evacuation.
Because the man committed suicide, News4Jax will not release his name, but resident Kuanza Henderson said if it's who she thinks it is, she wasn't expecting anything like this.
"I’ve spoken with him several times before," Henderson said. "It’s surprising."