Current:Home > FinanceFalling acorn spooks Florida deputy who fired into his own car, then resigned: See video -Wealthify
Falling acorn spooks Florida deputy who fired into his own car, then resigned: See video
View
Date:2025-04-19 17:54:57
An Florida deputy has resigned after an investigation into exactly why he emptied his clip into his own vehicle with a handcuffed suspect inside after mistaking a falling acorn as suppressed weapons fire.
In the released video, Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Jesse Hernandez was walking toward the car where Marquis Jackson, 22, had been detained and handcuffed. Jackson had been driving around the neighborhood of his girlfriend, Celestiana Lopez, near Green Acres in Fort Walton Beach, for nearly six hours honking the horn. Lopez said he was refusing to return the vehicle and had threatened her by call and text.
She also showed deputies a picture from inside the car that appeared to show a firearm suppressor.
No suppressor was found on Jackson but one of the deputies already on the scene, Sgt. Beth Roberts, told Hernandez about the picture when he arrived. Hernandez told the other deputies to detain Jackson and he was put into Hernandez's vehicle.
Why did a Florida deputy fire on his own car?
In the released video, Hernandez can be seen approaching his car when an acorn falls and strikes the top of it.
Hernandez, who has a military background, immediately dropped to the ground, yelling "Shots fired!" again and again before rolling up and firing at the rear of the car. At one point he fell to the ground while firing, yelling he had been hit, and continued to shoot.
Roberts responded and began firing at the car herself from the side. In her own bodycam video, Roberts can be seen rushing to his aid and firing into the car herself before calling in "shots fired, officer down." Hernandez can be seen crawling away.
Was the suspect in the deputy's vehicle hurt?
Somehow Jackson was uninjured in the crossfire, despite Hernandez emptying his clip into the back of the car and Roberts shooting from the side.
Was the deputy who shot at an acorn fired?
Hernandez resigned on Dec. 4 following the investigation. The final results of the investigation found that his use of deadly force against Jackson was "not objectively reasonable."
Roberts was exonerated of any wrongdoing.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Amazon Prime Day 2023 Fashion: See What Model Rocky Barnes Added to Her Cart
- NPR veteran Edith Chapin tapped to lead newsroom
- The Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham and Producer Darren Genet Break Up One Year After Engagement
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Chris Hemsworth Shares Rare Glimpse of Marvelous Family Vacation With His 3 Kids
- This Arctic US Air Base Has Its Eyes on Russia. But Climate is a Bigger Threat
- After a historic downturn due to the pandemic, childhood immunizations are improving
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- One Farmer Set Off a Solar Energy Boom in Rural Minnesota; 10 Years Later, Here’s How It Worked Out
Ranking
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Kate Hudson Proves Son Bing Is Following in Her and Matt Bellamy’s Musical Footsteps
- Score This Sweat-Wicking Sports Bra With 25,700+ 5-Star Reviews For $17 on Amazon Prime Day 2023
- Turn Your House Into a Smart Home With These 19 Prime Day 2023 Deals: Ring Doorbell, Fire TV Stick & More
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- West Baltimore Residents, Students Have Mixed Feelings About Water Quality After E. Coli Contamination
- Microplastics Pervade Even Top-Quality Streams in Pennsylvania, Study Finds
- RHOBH's Garcelle Beauvais Shares Update on Kyle Richards Amid Divorce Rumors
Recommendation
South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
Colleen Ballinger's Remaining Miranda Sings Tour Dates Canceled Amid Controversy
One Farmer Set Off a Solar Energy Boom in Rural Minnesota; 10 Years Later, Here’s How It Worked Out
'Hospital-at-home' trend means family members must be caregivers — ready or not
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
The White House and big tech companies release commitments on managing AI
At the UN Water Conference, Running to Keep Up with an Ambitious 2030 Goal for Universal Water Rights
A former teen idol takes on crypto