Family says man shot and killed by Jacksonville police was experiencing emotional distress

Sherrie Craig, who lives in North Carolina, said she’s Hughes’ ex-wife and a longtime friend. Action News Jax spoke with Craig while she was with Hughes’ family.

“They are completely distraught,” Craig said. “It’s really difficult.”

She said the family found out what happened from Hughes’ girlfriend.

“We don’t have much information at all,” Craig said. “We need to know exactly what’s going on, what happened.”

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it responded to the motel four times Tuesday all in response to the same suspect. Police said the final call came in at 12:37 p.m. in reference to a domestic dispute.

JSO Chief TK Waters said the suspect refused to comply with officers’ commands.

“He did not want to be arrested, so he fought,”

Chief TK Waters said the suspect threatened to kill police and a fight ensued.

“The officer could be heard yelling, ‘he’s going for my taser. He’s got my taser,’” Waters said.

The suspect tased the officer with his own taser, according to police. Waters said that’s when the officer fired his weapon multiple times. Police said the officer fired his weapon again when the suspect lunged towards officers.

“This is the first of us even hearing him being violent with someone,” Craig said.

Craig said it’s not the Hughes she knew.

“We don’t want him to be depicted as he was somebody evil because he really wasn’t evil,” Craig said. “He was a kind and sweet hearted individual.”

Craig said Hughes just lost a relative days ago and was upset.

“He wasn’t taking it easy,” Craig said. “He was going through emotional distress.”

The officer who fired his weapon is on administrative leave, which is protocol. JSO said he’s been with the agency for two years and this was his first officer-involved shooting.

The State Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation.