JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The officer who was shot in the leg by an armed robbery suspect on Wednesday morning in Northwest Jacksonville was released from the hospital.
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Officer Luis Mercado, a four-year veteran, applied a tourniquet to his own leg moments after he returned fire at the suspect, who was killed.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue took him to the hospital, where he spent a few hours receiving medical care.
The video above shows Sheriff T.K. Waters and other JSO officers greeting Mercado with applause as he leaves the hospital.
“I’m glad that he’s safe, I’m glad that he’s ok and I’m glad that his training kicked in,” Waters said. “He’s able to survive a very dangerous encounter. This is not an easy job, but he’s shown just what good training does and I’m so glad he’s able to go home to his family. That’s the biggest thing for me and it’s so good to see his fellow officers be able to watch him as he leaves the hospital and I’m thankful that it was a very short stay, which is good.”
JSO said an armed robbery was reported at a local business around 8 a.m. Police said a man, 20, entered a store with a mask and demanded money. He then got the money and took off.
When officers responded to the area, Mercado saw someone matching the description of the suspect running from the area.
He then jumped out of his cruiser and ran after the suspect, JSO said, while telling him to stop.
When Mercado finally caught up to the suspect, he took the suspect to the ground, JSO said.
As the suspect was being detained, JSO said the man fired two shots and hit Mercado once in the leg. He returned fire and hit the suspect. The suspect later died, JSO said, and the gun used was recovered.
The name of the suspect was not released because his family has not been notified, but JSO said he has a history of arrests and just got out of jail last May.
