Sheriff: Man surrenders after stabbing, hourslong standoff in Palatka

James Young accused of stabbing woman, barricading himself inside nearby house

PALATKA, Fla. – An hourslong standoff at a Palatka home came to an end Monday afternoon when deputies used tear gas to force a stabbing suspect to surrender, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office Special Operations Team surrounded a house on East Bay Street about 10:30 a.m. Monday after deputies said a man stabbed a woman at a nearby school bus stop and then barricaded himself inside the house, in which he did not live.

Deputies said the woman suffered stab wounds to the arm and stomach, and was taken to Orange Park Medical Center. Deputies described one of her cuts as superficial. 

The relationship between two is unclear, but deputies said the man had children at two nearby schools, which added to the need to place four schools in the area -- James A. Long Elementary, Moseley Elementary, Jenkins Middle School and Palatka High -- on lockdown. 

Meanwhile, the SWAT team was in communication with the suspect, who was identified as 28-year-old James Young by the Palatka Police Department, the agency investigating the stabbing.

As negotiators worked to get him out of the home, a warrant was issued for Young's arrest on a charge of aggravated battery.

Family members, including Young's parents, stood by, watching the events unfold.

"I'm holding up. Everything is alright," said Lilly Session, his mother. "I don’t know what happened."

IMAGES: Standoff at Palatka home

Just before 3 p.m., according to the Sheriff's Office, Young told deputies he had cut himself and was not going to leave the residence, prompting deputies to fire tear gas into the house. 

"We actually introduced a mild irritant, hoping that would drive him out of the house," Sheriff Gator DeLoach later told reporters. "Unfortunately, it didn’t have the desired effect, and so we had to introduce a stronger irritant gas into the house.”

DeLoach said that's when Young came out of the house. The sheriff said he was taken to a hospital to be treated for the self-inflicted wounds. The lockdowns were lifted a short time later.

Authorities said his injuries were non-life-threatening, and once Young is medically cleared, he will be booked into the Putnam County jail on the aggravated battery charge.

Deputies said it's unclear why Young chose the East Bay Street house to hide in. The owner of the property, who lives nearby, told News4Jax that she received a text message, saying someone she didn't know had barricaded himself inside the house, which she rents out.

The Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing. 


About the Authors:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.

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