JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An undercover detective was shot on Collins Road Wednesday morning on Jacksonville’s Westside and is stable, but in critical condition at UF Health Jacksonville.
The suspect's mother told Action News Jax the shooter was 19-year-old Kevin Rojas. JSO inmate records show a teen by that name has been charged with attempted murder.
JSO said the detective’s family has been notified; his 14-year-old son was in the car during the shooting. The undercover narcotics detective's name may not be released to protect his identity and his family, JSO said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened on Collins Road between Blanding and Roosevelt boulevards. JSO Tom Hackney said the undercover detective attempted a traffic stop while he was taking his son to school.
Sheriff Mike Williams said the detective was not in uniform and in an unmarked car.
The suspect got out of the Cadillac he was driving and began shooting. Shots were fired into the vehicle. Hackney said the son was not injured.
Mike Meyer, who witnessed the suspect leave the scene, said he works about 100 feet from the crime scene. He was at work around 7:15 a.m. when he heard two gunshots, followed by eight or nine more shots.
Meyer said he saw a glimpse of the suspect, who he described as a young man that dropped his bandana and gun and ran away.
Meyer then called 911.
“There was other people around, helping (the detective) out,” said Meyer. “One guy had pressure on his chest wound, the other guy was at his head and helping him out. He was definitely in shock, and in pretty bad shape. He was still conscious. Still talking.”
The detective was shot at least three times, once in the hand, head and upper body, said Hackney. The officer was wearing a body armor vest that was marked “Police.”
The witnesses helped move the detective and his vehicle off the train tracks as a train was approaching, Hackney said.
The detective was taken by helicopter to UF Health Jacksonville. He is in critical condition, but stable, said Hackney.
Hackney said the suspect ran to a nearby business and stole a flatbed Ford F-350. Several responding officers saw the truck and attempted a traffic stop; however the suspect continued to drive away. The offices chased the suspect further down Collins Road to the Whispering Pines subdivision near Oak Crossing Drive.
The suspect hit a home on a dead-end street in the subdivision, got out of the vehicle and ran off, Hackney said. The suspect, who was armed, was found on a back porch of a home, said JSO.
The suspect aimed the gun at the two officers, who fired their weapons, Hackney said. The suspect was injured at least four times.
The suspect and his live-in girlfriend got into an argument this morning. Hackney said the suspect made threats to harm himself and his girlfriend.
JSO said the suspect lived in the same subdivision that he ran to. JSO is continuing to investigate the altercation as shots may have been fired during the argument.
The suspect has been treated and released from the hospital, Hackney said. The identity of the suspect has not been released at this time.
It is not believed anyone else was involved in the incident.
The suspect faces charges of attempted murder and two aggravated assaults. More charges are pending, JSO said.
JSO will give another update Wednesday at about 4:30 p.m.
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