JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man who was wielding a knife along roads in San Marco was hospitalized after he was shot by responding officers Saturday afternoon, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced during a press conference.
Around 2:16 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 7600 block of Atlantic Boulevard in reference to a "suspicious man" who was walking around while waving a knife.
Responding officers could not find the suspect at the given location, but after circling the area, officers were flagged down by a witness who said the man carrying the knife was near Belote Place in San Marco.
When officers arrived near the intersection of Belote Place just south of Atlantic Boulevard, they found a man, identified by police as Jimmy Riggs, 49, sitting in a yard with a knife.
According to JSO, when officers arrived at the intersection, Riggs stood up and started advancing toward the officers while holding a "large knife" over his head.
Police said the officers gave Riggs multiple commands to stand down, drop the weapon and get on the ground.
However, Riggs continued advancing, police said, and the two responding officers simultaneously engaged him.
One officer deployed a stun gun while the other officer shot Riggs three times. Riggs fell to the ground and officers were able to handcuff him safely.
First responders arrived and rendered aid to Riggs on the scene before taking him to a local hospital.
According to police, Riggs was shot a total of three times in the thighs and has apparent self-inflicted wounds to his stomach. He is listed in critical condition but is expected to survive.
No officers were hurt during the incident.
"They gave him multiple commands, he chose not to obey for whatever reason, and they engaged the suspect at that time," said Chief Alan Parker. "He had a choice and made the wrong choice."
First Coast News asked if officers follow a specific protocol to determine when to discharge a firearm.
"It's a deadly encounter. So they [officers] can escalate all the way to the pistol, right away," said Parker. "There's no steps they have to go through."
Parker added each officer involved will have to give a statement on the incident, but contended that both officers' actions were within policy.
Police said Riggs had a previous drug charge, along with three Baker Acts initiated in Duval County.
At this time, police said it is unclear what Riggs' intentions were.
This marks the first officer-involved shooting in Duval County this year.