JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man was fatally shot Monday evening during an officer-involved incident in Jacksonville’s Oceanway neighborhood as deputies attempted to make an arrest connected to an ongoing criminal investigation. The shooting occurred amid a physical struggle, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
JSO Chief Alan Parker said the incident unfolded around 6:30 p.m. after task force officers spent nearly an hour conducting surveillance at a home on Ponce Boulevard near New Berlin Road. Officers were searching for William Lowe, who had an active warrant related to a stolen vehicle and was also suspected in multiple burglary cases.
Authorities said officers observed Lowe peeking outside the residence as a vehicle arrived at the location. Lowe then exited the home and entered the passenger side of the vehicle. At that point, officers moved in to make contact. One officer successfully took Lowe into custody without incident, JSO officials said.
Meanwhile, another officer, identified as Zackery Jennings, approached the driver of the vehicle. According to police, as Jennings attempted to remove the driver from the car, the driver refused to comply with commands and began physically resisting. The situation quickly escalated into what officials described as an aggressive struggle between the two.
JSO said that during the confrontation, the driver produced a handgun. Fearing for his safety, Officer Jennings fired his service weapon, striking the man in the head. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities did not immediately release the driver’s identity during the initial briefing.
Chief Parker confirmed that Officer Jennings has been with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for eight years and that this was his first officer-involved shooting. As is standard procedure in such cases, multiple investigations have been launched to review the incident. This includes an internal review by JSO, as well as oversight by outside agencies to ensure transparency and accountability.
Police emphasized that the investigation remains active and that additional details will be released once they are verified. Authorities have not stated whether body camera footage captured the incident or if any additional charges are expected. JSO also stressed that there is no ongoing threat to the public related to this event. As investigators continue their work, officials are urging patience while they thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the deadly encounter.
