Florida Deputy Resigns After Firing Into Car, Mistaking Acorn for Gunfire
In a shocking turn of events, an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputy has resigned after mistakenly firing into his own vehicle, believing he was under attack from suppressed weapons fire. The incident occurred during an altercation with a handcuffed suspect, Marquis Jackson, in Fort Walton Beach.
The chain of events that led to this dramatic incident began when Jackson, 22, was spotted driving erratically in the neighborhood of his girlfriend, Celestiana Lopez. Witnesses reported that he had been honking his horn for nearly six hours, refusing to return the vehicle to its rightful owner. To make matters worse, Lopez claimed that Jackson had been sending her threatening messages and even showed deputies a picture from inside the car that appeared to depict a firearm suppressor.
Deputy Jesse Hernandez, who arrived at the scene after being informed about the alleged suppressor by Sgt. Beth Roberts, made the decision to detain Jackson. Subsequently, Jackson was placed in Hernandez’s vehicle. Little did anyone know that chaos was about to ensue.
In a video released to the public, viewers can see Hernandez cautiously approaching his car with Jackson in the backseat. Suddenly, an acorn falls from a nearby tree and strikes the roof of the vehicle. Startled by the sound, Hernandez, who has a military background, immediately dropped to the ground and began shouting, “Shots fired!” repeatedly. In a state of panic, he fired multiple rounds at the rear of the car while rolling on the ground. At one point, he even exclaimed that he had been hit but continued firing.
In a surprising twist, Sgt. Beth Roberts, who was already on the scene, responded to the commotion by firing at the car from the side. Her bodycam footage captures the intense moment as she rushes to Hernandez’s aid and continues shooting at the vehicle before calling in for backup, declaring, “Shots fired, officer down.” Miraculously, despite the flurry of bullets, Jackson emerged from the incident unscathed.
Following a thorough investigation into the incident, Deputy Jesse Hernandez tendered his resignation on December 4th. The findings of the investigation deemed his use of deadly force against Jackson as “not objectively reasonable.” On the other hand, Sgt. Beth Roberts was exonerated of any wrongdoing, as it was determined that she acted appropriately given the circumstances.
This shocking incident serves as a reminder of the split-second decisions law enforcement officers often face in high-pressure situations. It highlights the importance of proper training and judgment when it comes to the use of force. While Deputy Hernandez’s resignation may come as a relief to some, it also raises questions about the overall accountability and training protocols within the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Moving forward, it is crucial that law enforcement agencies emphasize the significance of de-escalation tactics and stress the importance of accurately assessing potential threats before resorting to deadly force. Only through continuous improvement and learning from incidents like this can we hope to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
It remains to be seen what impact this incident will have on the Fort Walton Beach community and the broader conversation surrounding police conduct. As we await further developments, one thing is certain – the repercussions of mistaking an acorn for gunfire will not soon be forgotten.
