JSO: Convicted Felon Shot After Pointing Handgun at Unmarked Police Vehicle in Brentwood

On Sunday, January 11, 2026, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) reported an officer-involved shooting in the Brentwood area. Sheriff T.K. Waters and Chief Michael Paul provided a briefing detailing the incident, which occurred near the intersection of East 22nd Street and North Main Street.

Incident Timeline & Details

• 6:45 p.m.: Task force officers arrived in the area in an unmarked vehicle to investigate an “armed drug complaint.”
• The Confrontation: A man, later identified as Samuel Cook, walked from behind the unmarked car to the front and pointed a handgun at the officers.
• The Exchange: Officers R. Mills and S. Lyons fired at Cook from inside the vehicle. Cook fled on foot, continuing to fire his weapon at the officers.
• The Chase: A two-block pursuit followed. Cook eventually hid behind several vehicles before complying with verbal commands to surrender.
• Medical Aid: Officers provided immediate medical assistance at the scene. Cook was then transported to a local hospital for treatment of several gunshot wounds.

Suspect & Officers Involved

• Suspect: Samuel Cook, 35, a convicted felon with a history of drug possession and resisting law enforcement.
• Officers: Officer R. Mills and Officer S. Lyons. Neither officer was injured during the exchange.

Current Status of Investigation

This marks the third officer-involved shooting for JSO in 2026. Per standard protocol:

1. The State Attorney’s Office is currently leading the primary investigation.
2. Once the state’s review is complete, the JSO Professional Standards Division will conduct an internal administrative investigation.

Note: Sheriff Waters emphasized that it remains unclear if Cook was aware the individuals in the unmarked vehicle were law enforcement when he first approached them.