Suspect Shoots Officer With an Airsoft Pistol Before Officer Fires Back
Posted on
July 25,2023
Jacksonville, Florida — On July 8, 2023, at 11:11 p.m., 39-year-old Timothy James O'Donohue texted the JSO communication center reporting a human trafficking complaint. While officers were en route to that complaint, O'Donohue called the JSO communication center, reporting a residential burglary in progress. O'Donohue told the operator that. "People were digging Under his home to gain entry." When officers arrived at the residence in the 14,000 block of Boney Road, they spoke with both O'Donohue and a homeowner. The homeowner told the responding officers that O'Donohue had not been taking his psychotropic medication and was having a psychotic episode. The homeowner explained that O'Donohue had elucidated both the human trafficking and burglary events.
Because O'Donohue did not present evidence indicating he was a serious threat to his own safety or to the safety of others, the responding officers could not seek his involuntary examination under the provisions of the Baker Act. As such, the responding officers returned to their patrol duties. Hours later, on July 9, 2023, at 4:32 a.m., one of the homeowners called 911, reporting that O'Donohue had set fire to part of the house. According to the homeowner, those living in the home were awakened just before 4:30 a.m. by a fire alarm sounding. The homeowners discovered O'Donohue in the living room, smoking a marijuana cigarette, holding a Taurus-style airsoft pistol behind his back. O'Donohue had set fire to the living room curtains. Using a home fire extinguisher, the male homeowner put out the fire and immediately called 911 to report the details of the arson.
In his 911 call, the homeowner told the emergency communications officer that O'Donohue was armed with a knife and an airsoft pistol. At 4:43 a.m., the responding officer arrived on scene and parked his marked patrol vehicle near a tree on the driveway. When the officer parked and exited his car, O'Donohue was standing in front of the home. The officer called out to O'Donohue to inquire about his well-being. O'Donohue did not verbally respond. Instead, he paced in front of the house and then began walking towards the officer. Standing by his patrol vehicle, the officer repeatedly called to O'Donohue to put down his knife. As O'Donohue walked further down the driveway, the officer could see that O'Donohue was armed with a knife in one hand and what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol in the other. In response, the officer drew his service weapon and made repeated, loud verbal commands to O'Donohue to drop his gun. O'Donohue then began advancing towards the officer, still armed with a knife and the apparent pistol.
While O'Donohue charged the officer, the female homeowner screamed that O'Donohue was wielding an airsoft pistol. Then O'Donohue shot the airsoft pistol at the officer, hitting him. The officer returned fire, striking O'Donohue in his lower extremities. O'Donohue fell to the ground. While the officer attempted to put handcuffs on him, O'Donohue was extremely combative. Instead of complying with the officer's commands to stop moving, O'Donohue continued to fight back, yell obscenities at the officer, and demand the officer shoot him. Other officers eventually arrived on scene and helped the shooting officer safely put handcuffs on O'Donohue. Fire and rescue had been staged at the scene. As such, paramedics were able to immediately render aid to O'Donohue once he was safely detained. Then they transported him to an area hospital. O'Donohue was absentee booked on charges of Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Arson
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