Jacksonville Man Fatally Shot by K-9 Officer After Arson and Knife Threat

A man in Jacksonville was fatally shot by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9 officer on Wednesday following a series of escalating events that began with arson and ended with an armed confrontation. Authorities confirmed the incident took place after a lengthy search that spanned more than an hour.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stated that this shooting represents the 13th officer-involved shooting in the city so far in 2025, with nine of those incidents resulting in fatalities. This year’s figures have already surpassed the totals recorded for all of 2024, which saw eight such shootings and three deaths. The current number also matches the totals from 2023 for both the number of people shot and the number of deaths.

According to Times-Union records referenced by the Sheriff’s Office, seven of the 2025 cases involved circumstances connected to mental health struggles or suicidal behavior. Additionally, four of the shootings occurred after officers were fired upon first, with two officers injured as a result.

Chief Alan Parker said the most recent incident began shortly after 7 a.m. on August 13, when a mother contacted police to report that her son was having a mental health episode. The man was reportedly at a neighbor’s residence in the 1500 block of 16th Street, located in the Talleyrand/Longbranch area. The situation escalated dramatically when the man started two separate fires inside the home and fled the scene carrying a knife.

Firefighters were able to extinguish both fires while deputies launched an intensive search for the suspect, which lasted roughly 90 minutes. A description was shared with officers, which included details about the suspect’s previous gunshot injury and visible facial disfigurement.

One of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9 officers spotted the man about 10 blocks from the original location, near the intersection of Buckman and East 24th streets. The officer called out to him by name, ordering him to stop, and warned that a police dog would be deployed if he failed to comply. The suspect chose to run again.

The officer pursued him in a patrol vehicle and eventually caught up. Exiting the vehicle with a Taser in hand, the officer approached the suspect. Chief Parker explained that the man then raised the knife toward the officer on two separate occasions, stating, “Get back, get back.” At that point, the officer released the Taser, let it drop to the street, and drew his firearm.

Parker said the threat was considered a “lethal encounter,” prompting the officer to fire. The suspect was struck five times. Even after being hit, he still had the knife in one hand. Officers quickly disarmed him and began providing medical aid at the scene. Despite these efforts, the man, identified only as a 30-year-old, was pronounced dead. His name has not been released.

The officer involved was identified as Caleb Bumgarner, an 11-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. This was the first officer-involved shooting of his career.