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Ax-wielding man who tried to enter Jacksonville elementary school shot by cops after he refused to surrender

After failing to comply with officers' repeated calls to drop his weapon and threatening them, the man was shot at and is now in critical condition

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: A Florida school police officer was able to avert what could have been a deadly attack on an elementary school in Jacksonville when an ax-wielding man tried to enter the compound. As per the authorities, the school police officer shot a man who tried to get inside the elementary school after being stopped by police. The suspect was later confronted by the cops and was "shot at least once" when he refused to surrender his weapon.

Dr Diana Greene, Duval County Superintendent, informed News 4, “the incident occurred around 2.48 pm on Friday, and Ruth N. Upson Elementary School went into lockdown when the man approached the school.” At first a school safety assistant turned the man back and followed him a short distance but did not leave the campus to ensure that the school remained safe, said DCPS Police Chief Greg Burton addressing reporters.

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He added, “Police officers from the Duval County School Police Department were on the way. As the subject then left the school, he made his way toward a church where he was then encountered by the police officers. As the subject came towards one of the police officers, the officers gave him verbal warnings to drop the ax, kept giving him verbal warnings to drop the ax." After failing to comply with officers' repeated calls and threatening them, the man was shot at and is now in critical condition, as per Fox News.

The authorities informed families about the development by sending two notifications, “The first message informed families that the school initiated its lockdown procedures due to a ‘suspicious person allegedly carrying an axe outside of the school," but that all students and staff were safe. The second message informed parents that the school had "lifted the code red for dismissal."

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry gave an update via a tweet, and she has been following the development closely. He wrote, “I have been in contact with @DrDianaGreene. The safety of @CityofJax’s children has been and remains my top priority. Standing in solidarity today with @DuvalSchools after the incident this afternoon. Grateful everyone at the school is safe and headed home to their families.”

In another incident previously reported by MEAWW, an ax-wielding NYC man terrorized customers and caused mayhem inside McDonald’s outlet. Michael Palacios, 31, allegedly had destroyed property worth thousands of dollars after he got into a brawl with fellow customers.