JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Police officers fired 40 rounds at a man wanted for attempted murder, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said at a news conference on Saturday.
The shooting happened Friday afternoon at the Colonnade of Regency apartments.
JSO Chief John Hartley said a U.S. Marshals task force comprised of local law enforcement agencies made contact with Blake Barion.
Barion, 30, was wanted in New York for an attempted murder last month. Barion also had a parole warrant out of New Jersey.
Hartley says as task force members approached the door of the second floor apartment, Barion fled out a door to the balcony and jumped over to escape.
That's when JSO K-9 Officer Wes Bowen released his dog, Justice, to chase Barion.
As Barion fled , investigators say he shot at officers six times with a .40 caliber Taurus semi-automatic handgun. Police recovered the weapon at the scene.
"At that time Officer Alvarez, from St. Johns County, fired his service rifle, an AR-15 26 times and Officer Bowen fired 14 rounds from his issued .40 caliber Glock," said Chief Hartley.
Hartley says Barion was hit multiple times and died at the scene. Police recovered several spent shell casings and Barion's gun underneath his body.
"This is the first police involved shooting of 2011," Hartley says.
"Kudos to the dog, the police service dog Justice, who distracted the suspect at the time and we were able to capture him without the dog being hurt, the officers being hurt, and the violent felon was killed."
The officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave. The move is standard in police shootings.
