JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) has released preliminary details and video of an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of 71-year-old Lawrence Sullivan on Saturday, July 19, 2025. The incident is currently under review by the State Attorney’s Office and JSO’s internal affairs.
The incident began around 6 p.m. when officers responded to a crash on Beach Boulevard at the I-295 Northbound ramp. According to police, Sullivan ran a red light and struck a vehicle occupied by a mother and her children. No one was seriously injured in the crash.
After the collision, Sullivan exited his vehicle with a gun and told rescue personnel that he wanted to shoot himself. Officers Slatowski and Hernandez, a member of the JSO Crisis Negotiation Team, attempted to negotiate with him as he sat with his gun at a nearby construction trailer.
During the negotiation, a bicyclist entered the police-restricted area. Sullivan stood up and began walking toward a crowd of people, still armed with his gun. Both officers fired their rifles, striking Sullivan. Rescue personnel transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The JSO stated that the State Attorney’s Office will independently review the incident. Following that, JSO will conduct its own internal review and a Response to Resistance Board will convene to submit findings to the Sheriff. The department released the information in the interest of transparency, noting that conclusions are still pending.
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