‘I’ve been shot in the throat’: Bodycam footage shows horrifying moment officer is wounded before suspect is killed in hail of bullets
- Jeffrey Alan Martin, 38, was fatally gunned down by Jacksonville officers after shooting Officer Taylor Smith in the throat on April 18
- Martin was circling the Baptist Medical Center South parking lot when he started to wreak havoc around 9.30pm
- A handgun, AK-47 and three loaded magazines were recovered from his vehicle
Horrific bodycam footage showed the moment a Florida officer was shot in the throat while attempting to gun down an armed reckless driver in a hospital parking lot.
Jeffrey Alan Martin, 38, was identified as the suspect behind the wheel of a white Chevy Impala at the Baptist Medical Center South in Jacksonville, and he died after being hit by a hail of bullets on April 18 around 9.30pm.
Martin was killed after he wreaked havoc in the hospital parking lot and pleaded for officers to shoot him moments before shooting the officer, identified as Taylor Smith, according to W-JAX Jacksonville.
The footage released from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department comes with a ‘viewer discretion is advised’ before showing the moment the injured officer cried, ‘I’ve been shot.’
Police recovered a handgun from Martin’s car, along with an AK-47 and three loaded magazines.
The footage released from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department comes with a ‘viewer discretion is advised’ before showing the moment the injured officer cried, ‘I’ve been shot.’ The officer can be seen in the corner on his knees
Martin was circling the Baptist Medical Center South parking lot when he started to wreak havoc around 9.30pm. He eventually was gunned down after shooting the officer
Martin was initially reported after he was suspiciously seen in the parking lot lingering around hospital security.
He had been circling the parking lot in his car when he was noticed by an off-duty officer working at the hospital. Several officers were called to the scene.
Bodycam footage from the first officer showed the cop getting out of his patrol car and approaching Martin, who seemingly rolled his window down.
The officer ordered Martin to get out of the car, but instead, the suspect shouted, ‘Shoot it’ while holding a handgun. Martin then drove up to the officer’s car and shot through the passenger window before speeding off. No one was injured.
Other officers arrived in the parking lot and tried to maneuver Martin off to the side, but failed.
The suspect then rammed into the front of another patrol car and came to a full stop as officers blocked him on all sides with their patrol cars.
Police recovered a handgun from Martin’s car, along with an AK-47 and three loaded magazines
The fully loaded magazines were found in the trunk of Martin’s white Chevy Impala
Damage to a patrol car can be seen. Police said the suspect rammed into several officers while speeding through the parking lot
Five officers quickly surrounded Martin within arm’s length of his wrecked car. Officers could heard shouting at Martin to get out of the car, to which he screamed, ‘No!’
Police held their fire as Smith inched closer to Martin’s passenger door. Within seconds, Martin fired his handgun and Smith returned several rounds, leading to other officers following his lead.
‘I’ve been shot,’ Smith shouted as another officer attempted to remove him from the line of fire.
Martin was pronounced dead at the scene and his handgun was recovered from under his thigh.
Smith was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
An independent investigation into the shooting is underway and the State’s Attorney Office will decide if the officer’s actions were lawful. The department will review any policy violations.
Authorities warned that investigations can take up to a year to complete.
Investigators have not said the current duty status of the officers involved in the incident.
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