‘Crazy and sad:’ Man killed in shooting after confrontation with deputies in Orange Park

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A man is dead after a confrontation with deputies led to a shooting in Clay County.

“Crazy and sad,” said neighbor Robert Alvarez of the news. He lives behind the Wawa station on Blanding Boulevard near Filmore Street, which is nearby where the situation unfolded.

LISTEN: Sheriff Michelle Cook updates developments Thursday morning on WOKV

Sheriff Michelle Cook says the shooting occurred outside the Wawa gas station around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday. She said three deputies were involved in the shooting, and none were hurt.

“Traumatic situation for all involved,” Cook told Jacksonville’s Morning News 104.5 FM WOKV.

The name of the person killed has not been released. Cook said the incident started with a family disturbance at a home in Orange Park. The man fled from the home, and led Orange Park Police on a car chase, which is when Clay deputies became involved.

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Video shows a deputy attempt a PIT maneuver on the Chrysler PT Cruiser the man was driving near the Wawa station, moments before shots were fired, Cook said.

“The crash was a scraping,” Alvarez said. “I would say four minutes later or so, [I heard] shots. Kinda scary.”

“It was terrible to see,” another neighbor, Maneston Kerkula, said of the police tape and the situation right next door. “I was very afraid. It was scary because we are right behind Wawa.”

It is unknown at this time whether the man was armed. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now leading the investigation.

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