JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting in the Woodstock area of Jacksonville, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Around 12:30 p.m., JSO says that a Narcotic Overdose Squad was conducting an investigation into a 'known fentanyl dealer' that may be related to an overdose death from a week ago.
While the unit was doing surveillance, JSO believed to have located the alleged suspect driving around inside a vehicle. Police say they tried to pull the man over, but he took off on foot near Cane Lane.
JSO says that the foot chase continued down to the 5800 block of Cane Lane when JSO officers reportedly ordered the man to stop. Police say it was at this time that the man pulled out a handgun and fired.
A nearby neighbor Robert Kidd and his wife says they heard all the commotion.
“I saw police flying down the street I heard gun shots I was up near the Burger King right outside the corner of Beaver and Edgewood. I saw helicopters I saw cop cars coming in and JSO and everything else, and I was just like wow.”
Kidd says he heard about ten gunshots back to back.
"I just suggest everyone just be safe and watch themselves because obviously day time or nighttime it doesn't matter. Gunfire could happen, and innocent people could be taken out," said Kidd.
JSO says detectives did not receive any injuries and returned fire. Nobody was struck, police say.
The suspect then continued running toward a different residence on Broadway Avenue and entered the home, according to JSO.
The man has no connection to the home and as a result will be charged with armed burglary, police say.
Shortly after, JSO says the man encountered two different detectives on Broadway Avenue. It was at that point that the man fired again at police, JSO says. Detectives returned fire and struck the man, who fell into the front yard of a home, police say.
JSO says that the man was still holding the gun with the finger on the trigger, so a K-9 was brought over to help police deter the threat.
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responded and pronounced the man dead in the front yard.
The State Attorney's Office is conducting an independent investigation.
Police say that in total, there were multiple rounds fired by detectives.
The suspect's identification has not been released by JSO pending next of kin notification.
Police say there have been 380 overdose deaths so far this year in Jacksonville.
The Narcotic Overdose Squad was created three years ago to "try and locate these dangerous drug dealers," said police.