‘Scene stabilized’ near Jacksonville Zoo, JSO says; sources say police K-9 was shot, person sped off & crashed

Police were searching for ‘armed suspect’ in area of Busch Drive & Zoo Parkway

The scene near Jacksonville Zoo after an "officer-involved" incident Friday. (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Friday evening that the scene at Busch Drive and Zoo Parkway has “been stabilized,” and that people who were asked to shelter in place can move about.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, which is in the area, announced it was temporarily closed after the JSO announced it was investigating an “officer-involved incident” in the area. They said units in the area of Busch Drive were searching for an “armed suspect.”

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“There continues to be an active search for an armed suspect in the area of Busch Drive and Zoo Parkway. We would ask that citizens stay out of the area - if in the area please shelter in place,” the JSO said in a tweet.

Multiple sources confirmed it stemmed from another scene on West 45th Street, where someone fired a gun and sped off, later crashing on Busch Drive. Sources said a police K-9 was shot and flown to an emergency veterinary clinic in Jacksonville Beach for treatment.

Officers outside the clinic told News4JAX the dog was expected to survive.

A board member of K-9s united, who happened to be at the animal clinic, sent a photo of the police chopper as it arrived at the clinic in Jacksonville Beach.

Photo taken as chopper arrives at animal clinic in Jacksonville Beach.

This is a developing story. Check back for the latest.

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