Nassau County Sheriff's Office deputies involved in shooting at Amelia Island Surf & Racquet Club

Nassau County Sheriff's Office

March 21, 2018 10:46 a.m.

Late last night right before midnight NCSO’s 911 Communications Center received a call from an individual who lived at the Amelia Island Surf and Racquet Club Condominiums in Unit A129, which is on the 6th floor, located at 4800 Amelia Island Parkway Fernandina Beach.

The individual was a white male, 25 years old who lived at that address. He told our communications officer that there were 3 male subjects inside his apartment that were armed with guns.

Photo provided to Fernandina Observer.

We dispatched 4 deputies and a sergeant to this address. The NCSO Sergeant on the scene actually talked to him on his cell phone trying to get him to come out of his condo. The individual stated that he had a .45 caliber hand gun with several rounds of ammunition and would not come out and had barricaded himself in the bathroom.

After almost an hour trying to get the person to come out, deputies on the scene called for our Special Response Team to respond, since they are specially equipped to handle barricaded subjects.

Before SRT members arrived deputies on the scene heard several gun shots coming from inside the residence. After the gun shots, deputies could not get in touch with the subject again. After the SRT team arrived they attempted again to reestablish communication with the subject, but were unsuccessful. They then made the decision to break in the door and deploy gas into the residence to force the subject out.

The subject suddenly appeared in the doorway holding a handgun. Deputies identified themselves and ordered him to drop the gun, but he refused and retreated back inside the condo. SRT members started to enter the residence when he suddenly reappeared and told them to tell my daddy I love him and make sure you shoot me in the head, then he shot at the deputies, which was the wrong thing to do. Three members of the SRT Team with rifles shot him several times. Nassau County Fire Rescue arrived on scene and pronounced him dead.

The total time from the original call to pronouncing him deceased was a little over 3 ½ hours.

We are not sure at this time what his problem was, but he had been arrested on drug charges in Connecticut in the past. We did respond to this address on February 27, 2018, in reference to a domestic dispute between him and a female friend who were arguing over personal reasons. He wanted the female and her child to leave his condo, which they eventually did.

The investigation of the shooting is being conducted by FDLE, and once complete, will be reviewed by the state attorney’s office.

The three SRT Team members who shot the suspect will be on admin leave until they are cleared to come back to work. They are Sergeant Brian Blackwell, employed on 8-31-2009; Deputy Dallas Palecek, employed on 9-5-2008; Deputy Scott Kelly, employed on 1-14-2008.

FDLE will be notifying next of kin.