Two deputies on leave after early morning fatal shooting

Historic City News was informed that at about 1:30 a.m. the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call at a residence on Race Track Road that turned deadly when deputies shot and killed one person at the scene.

Details of the shooting are incomplete as the investigation is continuing this morning. It has been reported that two deputies have been placed on “paid administrative leave” — a standard procedure in officer-involved shootings. The agency would not say whether or not the subject fired at deputies or how many shots were fired by deputies. We know that neither deputy was injured.

“We have statements, but we like to validate that with the evidence at the scene; so, we won’t be able to answer those questions until we get back inside the structure,” Public Information Commander Charles Mulligan told reporters this morning.

Major Crimes Investigators with the department are now taking statements from the two deputies involved as well as any other witnesses and collecting evidence from the scene, however, a search warrant will be necessary before law enforcement officers and crime scene technicians can enter the residence. Mulligan said that when deputies can enter the house and compare the statements to the evidence, more information will be released to reporters.

“At this time everything slows down in the law-enforcement circles,” Mulligan said. “There are search warrants that need to be obtained, and as you know it’s still the middle of the night, so we have to get the individuals out of bed to help us process the search warrants.”

Victim advocates employed by the Sheriff’s Office are at the scene to assist friends and family members of the shooting victim.