Deputy-involved shooting near Davis Park disrupts multiple Saturday events: sources

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – A deputy-involved shooting near Davis Park in Ponte Vedra Beach disrupted multiple events Saturday morning and closed the entrance to Ponte Vedra High School, which is next to the park, law enforcement sources told News4JAX.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that there was a deputy-involved incident near the park around 8:37 a.m. Saturday.

Law enforcement sources told News4JAX that the incident began as a pursuit of an armed burglary suspect on Palm Valley Road about 5.5 miles away from the park.

The pursuit ended near Davis Park, where the suspect was shot, and a woman who was in the vehicle with the suspect was taken into custody. She is being questioned by investigators.

News4JAX was told the deputy is OK. There’s no word yet on the condition of the suspect.

Parents who witnessed the incident said the park’s soccer fields were later evacuated, and News4JAX was told students were taking SATs on Saturday at Ponte Vedra High.

One parent who was at the park to watch a youth football game said everyone heard two to three shots and froze and about 10 seconds later there was a barrage of gunfire — maybe 10-12 shots.

He said that’s when they quickly grabbed all the children and headed for their cars.

St. Johns County investigators said there is no threat to the community and that the Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.

Another source told News4JAX that all games and activities at Davis Park have been canceled for the day.

Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.

ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue82erqxnlJq9tsDYZqCnrp%2Bhw6awjKyfqKeknruoec2emKtllJbDqr%2BMqZiro12ZtrS%2B1KmrrGWdqrm1tc%2BlnGarkanCs7DAsmSerpWjwbR50qisq5uVqHw%3D