JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An off-duty Jacksonville sheriff's corrections officer was killed after being shot by a man involved in a domestic dispute with a woman at a truck stop around 1:20 a.m. Saturday, according to the sheriff's office.
The name of the officer is Brad McNew, who was employed with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for 24 years and had just finished his shift when he was shot and killed at a Duval Road truck stop. McNew was not in uniform, police said.
Sheriff T.K. Waters called the shooting “senseless violence” and “disturbing” and said the family has been notified.
“He’s the epitome of a public servant to me, he could have ignored it but he didn’t,” Waters said.
Officials say a man in the dispute shot McNew from the passenger window of a 2000 black Mustang with a North Carolina license plate; the tag number on the plate is RHL4285.
According to police, the suspect exited the Mustang, put a handgun on its hood, then threw the woman out of the car. McNew intervened and asked if she was OK. JSO says the unidentified man then pointed the gun at McNew.
The woman tried to get the suspect to leave, and when they did, the suspect shot McNew through the window multiple times. They fled the scene shortly as McNew was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, police said.
"You don't kill a person because they're trying to check on the welfare of a person you're assaulting," Waters said. "... It's a huge loss for our agency any time we lose an employee."
Now, a nationwide Be On The Lookout alert has been pushed out in search of the suspect. They were seen heading north on U.S. 17 potentially toward Nassau County. The man is considered armed and dangerous.
*Viewer Discretion: A video released on JSO's shows domestic violence.*
“We are devastated by the brutal and senseless murder of one of our brave officers, who was taken from us while selflessly serving and protecting our community. This is an attack not only on our agency but on the very fabric of law and order.
We will stop at nothing to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure they face the full weight of the law. Our fallen officer’s sacrifice will never be forgotten, and we stand united in our commitment to honor his memory by relentlessly pursuing justice," Waters said.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500, email JSOCRIMETIPS@Jaxsheriff.org or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
A 'Tragic Situation'
First Coast News Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson said law enforcement officers are technically never off-duty and McNew's actions were instinctive to help someone in distress.
"You don't think about it, because if something happens and you see someone in distress you are instinctively going to want to help," Jefferson said.
He said the shooting is a tragic situation.
"The good thing is they have a vehicle description, a color and a tag number, and then you have an image of the shooter himself," Jefferson said. "Every law enforcement officer working or not working is on the lookout for this individual."
McNew's death comes as JSO is reeling from the death of a supervisor Thursday evening. The agency released the following statement:
"The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of its members. A supervisor, who had been with the agency for 18 years, died unexpectedly late Thursday evening after complications with a long-term medical condition. To honor the request of the family, we will not be releasing the name of the employee. We ask for prayers and support for the employee’s family and JSO family at this time."
Jefferson said incidents of domestic violence are intimate in nature and can change rapidly. He said the relationship between the female victim and the suspect needs to be examined as the investigation continues.
"Those are questions that have to be answered," Jefferson added.
Domestic Violence Resources
If you or someone you know needs help in a domestic violence situation, Hubbard House has a 24-hour hotline and text line. The hotline number is 904-354-3114 and the text line number is 904-210-3698.
Survivors can also make an appointment or walk into the Hubbard House Outreach Center at 6629 Beach Blvd., Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. All Hubbard House services are free and confidential.
If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis and needs help right away: Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts can reach the suicide prevention lifeline 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
Children and teens can call the Wolfson Children's Hospital free mental health hotline at any time at 904-202-7900, or text the word "Life" to 741-741 and a counselor will text you back.
If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, the national domestic violence hotline is 800-799-7233.