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Christopher Ford

Age : 45

Gender : Male

Race : Native Pacific Islander

Date : 08/18/2026

Location : 1700 block of West Beaver Street near Stockton Street

City : Jacksonville

County : Duval

State : Florida

Agency : Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police after approaching officer at police stop station

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

NARRATIVE:
On 08/18/2026, 45-year-old Christopher Ford was shot and killed by a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office sergeant outside a police stop station in the 1700 block of West Beaver Street near Stockton Street in Jacksonville. Ford was transported to UF Health Jacksonville, where he died.
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At approximately 3:30 p.m., the sergeant was sitting in a parked patrol vehicle at the stop station when Ford approached the vehicle. JSO Chief of Investigations Michael Paul said the sergeant got out and had a brief conversation with Ford. Police have not publicly disclosed what Ford said to the sergeant or why Ford approached him.
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JSO alleged that during the interaction Ford pulled out a handgun and began walking backward. The sergeant drew his firearm and pointed it at Ford. Police said Ford then fired one shot toward the sergeant. The bullet missed the sergeant and struck the building behind him.
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The sergeant returned fire and shot Ford. After the shooting, the sergeant provided medical aid and Ford was taken into custody. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department personnel transported him to UF Health Jacksonville, where he was pronounced dead.
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JSO said Ford had no local criminal history. Police disclosed that Ford had been held under Florida's Baker Act in February 2026, approximately six months before his death, indicating a recent mental health crisis. No additional information about the circumstances of that intervention has been publicly released.
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The sergeant was wearing a body camera and activated it during the encounter. Chief Paul cautioned that because the encounter unfolded very quickly, the recording may not have captured the entire interaction. JSO has not yet released the body-camera footage.
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JSO's Cold Case Unit is investigating the shooting. The sergeant was placed on administrative leave following the killing. This was the 14th shooting by Jacksonville Sheriff's Office personnel during 2026.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has not publicly identified the sergeant who killed Ford, citing Marsy's Law. JSO disclosed, however, that this was the sergeant's second shooting involving police gunfire. The identity of the sergeant and the circumstances and outcome of his previous shooting therefore remain important outstanding issues for this case.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/08/18/jso-investigating-incident-on-west-beaver-street/
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jacksonville-police-responding-officer-involved-shooting-westside/O67QDBAWLNCVFI5SIWREQOJMEQ/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_yRbXWtMdg