JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A deadly officer-involved shooting Monday night was the first recorded homicide of 2026 in Jacksonville, and like several deadly Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office-involved shootings last year, it began as a response to a domestic dispute.
Of the 17 shootings in 2025 involving JSO officers, 11 were deadly.
According to News4JAX records, at least three of those deadly shootings began as domestic violence or disturbance calls, like the one Monday night that started as an argument between a husband and wife at the Luxor Club Apartments on Egrets Nest Drive around 8:30 p.m.
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When officers arrived, they separated the couple to get both sides of the story, and the woman said they were married and that her husband owned two firearms, police said.
When officers went to approach 35-year-old Daniel Rodriguez, they said he pulled a firearm from his waistband, leading the JSO officers to fire at him. Despite efforts to render aid, Rodriguez died at the scene, JSO said.
Per protocol, the shooting will be investigated by the State Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether the deadly force was justified.
Several incidents last year seemed to follow similar patterns when officers were called to intervene in domestic violence disputes.
In one incident, three officers ended up fatally shooting a 28-year-old who JSO said was waving a gun while “holding his girlfriend against her will” when the police were called.
In another 2025 incident, a 37-year-old man was involved in a violent altercation with his girlfriend and became aggressive toward responding officers, who eventually shot him in the chaotic encounter.
A third incident in 2025 began as a report of a 26-year-old man in a mental health crisis who police said pulled out a pregnant woman’s hair during an attack before he was hit with Tasers and then fatally shot.
Warning signs
Experts say that before a situation gets to a breaking point, there are warning signs that you might be in a dangerous relationship.
Erin Whitaker-Houck, the associate vice president of Clinical Program operations at LSF Health Systems, said that at its core, domestic violence is about power and control.
“So it often starts with control, fear, and intimidation. It’s often not physical right away, in the beginning,” Whitaker-Houck said. “Early warning signs might be things like feeling like you have to walk on eggshells around your partner, having a partner who constantly checks your phone, your location, your finances. Verbal abuse is often an early warning sign. Somebody whose name-calling, humiliation.”
LSF Health Systems is a Jacksonville company focused on providing mental health resources across Florida.
Calling police
Whitaker-Houck said in domestic violence situations, it’s critical to remove yourself from immediate danger by remaining calm and keeping your voice low to lower the temperature in the room.
“If you see that that’s starting to occur, this may look like physically moving to another room, right? Avoid sensitive topics that in those moments of anger, when things are already heated, now is not the time,” Whitaker-Houck said.
She said if you feel like you must call law enforcement for help, make sure you’re in a safe place. Also, understand that dispatchers are trained to stay on the line and observe, even though you might not be able to tell them everything at once.
“If you call 9-1-1, try to speak clearly and state what’s happening in the moment. And if you can’t talk, stay on the line. Dispatchers are trained to listen for clues. They know that these situations come up, and you can’t always communicate. So they’re trained for that. They’re trained to listen to what’s going on,” Whitaker-Houck said.
Experts say if you do get the operator on the line and it’s safe, be as specific and concrete as possible about the situation. For instance, say “he’s threatening me” rather than “we’re arguing,” and if weapons are involved, identify where the weapons are located in relation to you and the other person.
Resources
If you or someone you know believes you are in a dangerous relationship, free, confidential support is available 24/7 through Hubbard House’s Hotline at 904-354-3114 and Text line at 904-210-3698.
Here’s a list of other resources available:
- The Florida Domestic Violence Hotline, which will direct you to the nearest shelter, is 1-800-500-1119.
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24 hours a day. The number is 1-800-799-SAFE.
- The Micah’s Place (Nassau County) Domestic Violence Help Hotline is 904-225-9979.
- The Quigley House (Clay County) hotline is 904-284-0061.
- The Betty Griffin Center (St. Johns County) can be reached at 904-824-1555.