JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 30-year-old Jacksonville man was shot dead by police after he pointed a gun at officers Tuesday night, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff T.K. Waters said police responded to gunshots at the Blanding Town Center at 103rd Street and Blanding Boulevard Tuesday night just after 9 p.m., which led to the shooting.
At a JSO press conference just after midnight, Chief Alan Parker identified the victim as Randy Sharpe. He said Sharpe had a criminal history involving many charges, including robbery, drugs and domestic complaints.
He said the chain of events leading to the shooting began earlier that day when Sharpe asked a friend for a ride to the bank. The friend told police he was intoxicated when she arrived to pick him up.
She drove him to the bank to get rent money. Afterward, they began to argue and ended up parking the car in the Blanding Town Center parking lot, Parker said.
The woman exited to car during the argument. She told police she turned around when she heard gunshots. This was when she saw Sharpe wielding the pistol she kept in her car, shooting it into the parking lot.
When officers arrived, Sharpe ran towards the back of the parking lot. He then pointed the gun at officers, according to Parker. Two officers fired at Sharpe.
He went down immediately. Officers rendered aid and called for fire rescue. Paramedics also worked on Sharpe on scene and he was taken to the hospital. He died from his injuries.