JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An armed robbery suspect was hospitalized after being shot by a detective Sunday morning at an apartment complex on Old Kings Road South in San Jose, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
JSO Chief of Investigations T.K. Waters said there had been a series of armed robberies in the area, so officers were conducting surveillance in one of the nearby apartment complexes shortly before 6 a.m. when they heard a robbery go out over the radio. Waters said the suspect was running across the street to another apartment complex when he passed a JSO vehicle. Waters said police jumped out of the vehicle and ran after the suspect. Waters said a detective was “very audible, saying, ‘Police. Stop. Police. Stop.’”
Waters said the suspect, who was armed with a firearm, then ran to an apartment building and attempted to enter. That’s when, Waters said, the detective fired two shots from his service weapon, striking the suspect.
The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Daniel Newton Neal, was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, Waters said.
Police said they’re not looking for any other suspects.
Waters noted that the gun the suspect had was stolen from a car in 2020.
Detective J.G. Bennett, a 13-year veteran of JSO, was not injured. According to the Sheriff’s Office, this was his first officer-involved shooting and he has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. Waters said the detective was wearing a body camera.
According to the JSO crime mapping tool, there have been 11 robberies reported in the last three months within a mile radius of Sunday’s shooting.
Some residents told News4Jax they’re pleased police have stepped up patrols in the area.
“I have lived in this area for 46 years, and there’s a little more action over here now,” said a San Jose resident, who did not wish to be identified. “I am always happy to hear police are around.”
Bishop Sharpe, a resident at one of the apartment complexes, said: “They’re doing a good job.”
This was the first JSO-involved shooting this year.
The State Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation.