JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A shooting in Putnam County sent a Gainesville man, claiming to be God, to the hospital Thursday. He was shot through a Bible, which he was clutching to his chest.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office says that shooting was in self-defense and justifiable.
Investigators say the Department of Children and Families was doing a home visit to Jason Kaercher's family's home, which is in Melrose.
Kaercher told the police he wanted to go outside. He walked outside with his wife and baby -- moments later, there was screaming outside.
When the DCF employee and relatives went outside, they saw Kaercher in the back seat of his car. He was holding the baby and a bible, squeezing the baby until they were "turning blue," police said.
The DCF employee called 911. Family told police at this point Kaercher exited the car and began walking toward State Road 21. He was telling them he was "God" while still clutching the baby and the Bible. He began squeezing the baby aggressively again.
While at the home, Kaercher began acting erratically and told the DCF employee that he wanted to go outside for a minute. Kaercher, his wife and baby walked outside of the home and moments later the DCF employee and relatives heard screaming. When they went outside they saw Kaercher in the back seat of his vehicle, squeezing the baby hard enough the child was turning blue. The DCF case manager called 911 at about 4:55 p.m. Family members told detectives Kaercher then exited the car and began walking toward SR 21 stating he was “God” while clutching the baby and a Bible. Witnesses said Kaercher began squeezing the baby again, causing it to turn blue.
One of the family members took a shovel from the house and came at Kaercher, trying to get him to let go of the baby.
Police say Kaercher laid down in the roadway on top of the baby and the Bible. "For unknown reasons," Kaercher eventually got up and a family member was able to grab the baby and take it to safety.
Drivers and a work crew had stopped in the road, trying to avoid hitting Kaercher. A work crew member restrained him, and the family member put the shovel down.
Kaercher jumped on the hood of a vehicle, hitting the car, and then opened the door of a truck and began beating the driver, police say.
Police say he began violently beating the driver with the shovel, which his family member had left behind, and broke the victim's arm.
Kaercher dropped the shovel, and a bystander picked it up and hit him, getting him to stop.
The man in the truck who Kaercher allegedly beat pulled out a gun and shot him.
Kaercher had been holding onto the Bible the entire time and was clutching it to his chest, but bullets when through the Bible and hit him in the chest.
He was air-lifted to a hospital and is in "serious but stable condition," according to PCSO.
The man who Kaercher allegedly beat was taken to a hospital, treated for his injuries and released.
The baby was taken to a pediatric emergency room.
The investigation is continuing, but charges are expected for Kaercher.
The driver of the truck is considered a victim acting in self-defense. No charges are expected and his name is not being.