Just released: body camera video of fatal JSO shooting

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Newly released body camera video shows the moments officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office shot a woman on April 11th who lunged at them with a knife, even cutting one officer.

The release from the State Attorney’s Office includes two videos, from body worn cameras of the two shooting officers. The shooting left Jacksonville woman, Leah Baker, 29, dead.

The video from officer Elizabeth Mechling’s camera begins by showing her in her cruiser, responding to Golfair Boulevard to a call of an argument.

In the video you see Mechling standing by the door of a home, when Baker, opens the door holding a knife and lunges toward her, cutting her on the arm.

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Mechling tells the woman to drop the knife and get on the ground. Baker drops the knife momentarily, before trying to pick it up again. Mechling then opens fire.

Seconds later, a second officer, John Nobles, can be heard in Mechling’s video telling Baker to drop the knife. You can hear Mechling shout commands again.

You then see Baker charge toward the Nobles, an 18-year JSO veteran, with the knife in hand. Nobles then opens fire.

JSO says this was Nobles’ fifth officer involved shooting, and Mechling’s first.

An investigation by the State Attorney’s Office Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI) team found the shooting justified.

Baker’s roommate told Action News Jax her mental health had been declining. She had been baker acted previously and had also been previously arrested on a domestic violence charge.

Cox Media Group