On Tuesday, the police released body camera footage revealing a tragic confrontation between deputies and a murder suspect in South Florida, which resulted in the suspect’s death.
In March, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) deputies located Zonchez Prince, the wanted murder suspect.
Prince was the subject of a manhunt and sought in connection with the killing of a man in Pompano Beach on May 12.
JSO Assistant Chief Chris Brown stated in an official Sheriff’s Office video that they trailed him to a Eury’s Market parking lot.
The officers surrounded Prince’s car, blocking his path to stop him from escaping the lot.
Despite their instructions, Prince ignored their order to surrender and challenged the deputies, saying they would have to take his life.
Prince can be heard asking the officers to shoot him in the newly disclosed body camera footage.
The JSO made public three distinct bodycam perspectives capturing the shooting incident.
The officers responded that they had no intention of shooting Prince. Prince was asked to step out of the car and show officers his hands by a JSO deputy.
After a few seconds, Prince brandished a firearm at one of the officers through an open car window. This action by Prince was viewed as hostile, and two officers opened fire.
It is important to note that while the suspect can be heard instructing one of the officers to shoot him, the footage does not depict the suspect actually firing a gun or aiming it at the officers on the scene.
The deputies immediately provided medical assistance, but unfortunately, Prince succumbed to his injuries at the scene, as confirmed by Assistant Chief Brown.
The Florida State Attorney’s Office will conduct an impartial investigation to examine the officers’ actions and ascertain their legality in the shooting.
Concurrently, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) will conduct an internal inquiry to determine if the officers’ actions aligned with JSO policy.
As per Local10’s report, both Prince and his brother, who was sought in connection with a murder case, were involved.
Brandon Prince, aged 34 and the brother of Zonchez, is identified as the second suspect in that murder.
Following the fatal shooting of his brother by JSO officers, Brandon Prince was apprehended in Fort Lauderdale two days later.
News4Jax indicates that the motive behind the murder is still being investigated.
