The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office has identified 33-year-old Jackson Paul Jones of Florence as the man killed in an officer-involved shooting on Wednesday. The incident occurred in the rear parking lot of the Florence Police Department and involved a Florence police officer. Sheriff’s investigators are now handling the case at the request of Florence Police Chief Mike Holt.
The situation unfolded around 5:30 p.m. when a 911 call was made by a man claiming to be in the police department parking lot and threatening to “shoot the place up.” Responding officers located Jones at the scene, where he exited his vehicle armed with a handgun and began firing. One officer returned fire, striking Jones. Despite emergency responders’ efforts, Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were injured during the exchange.
Sheriff’s investigators recovered a handgun, a cell phone, and Jones’ vehicle for examination. His body was sent to state forensics for an autopsy and toxicology testing, which may shed light on factors contributing to the incident.
As part of the investigation, the sheriff’s office is conducting interviews with the officers involved, reviewing body camera footage, and analyzing surveillance video from the police department building. Additionally, the contents of the cell phone and vehicle will be closely examined to uncover any evidence or motives tied to Jones’ actions.
The sheriff’s office has emphasized its commitment to a thorough and transparent investigation. The findings will be presented to a Lauderdale County Grand Jury for review to determine whether the officer’s actions were justified under the circumstances.
This tragic incident has left the Florence community shaken, and authorities have provided no additional information as the investigation remains ongoing. Local officials have urged patience as they work to piece together the events that led to the fatal encounter.