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Jamari Rashaud Akins

Gender : Male

Age : 20

Race : Black

Date : 07/09/2025

Location : Soutel Drive and Norfolk Boulevard

City : Jacksonville

County : Duval

State : Florida

Agency : Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Officer Luis Mercado III

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during armed robbery response

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/09/2025 at approximately 8:00 a.m., officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to an armed robbery in progress at a Family Dollar store near the intersection of Soutel Drive and Norfolk Boulevard in Northwest Jacksonville. The man, later identified as 20-year-old Jamari Rashaud Akins, allegedly brandished a firearm inside the store and fled on foot with stolen cash before officers arrived.
Officer Luis Mercado III arrived at the scene and began pursuing Akins on foot. During the chase, Akins allegedly turned and fired two rounds at the pursuing officer, striking Officer Mercado in the leg. Officer Mercado returned fire, striking Akins at least once.
Both Akins and Officer Mercado were transported to local hospitals. Akins was later pronounced dead from gunshot wounds. Officer Mercado underwent surgery for his leg wound and is expected to recover.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office publicly released Officer Mercado’s name and confirmed that body camera footage of the incident exists, though it has not yet been made public pending the outcome of the investigation. Officials have not disclosed whether Akins had any prior criminal record.
The shooting occurred in a residential and commercial corridor, prompting lockdowns at nearby businesses and schools. The investigation is being conducted by the JSO Homicide Unit in coordination with the State Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Internal Affairs Division, which will determine whether the use of deadly force complied with department policy.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wokv.com/news/local/breaking-jso-responding-an-officer-involved-incident/G6NL6J4KM5FUZNLDC2R64EMW6E/
https://www.jaxsheriff.org/News/20250709-Officer-Involved-Shooting.aspx
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2025/07/09/jso-officer-injured-armed-robbery-suspect-killed-after-chase-in-northwest-jacksonville-sheriff/