In response to a request from Florence Police Chief Mike Holt, the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into an officer-involved shooting that occurred on January 15, 2025. The individual who lost his life in this incident has been identified as 33-year-old Jackson Paul Jones, a resident of Florence, Alabama.
On that fateful Thursday, Jones made a 911 call around 5:30 PM, during which he claimed to be in the parking lot of the Florence Police Department and stated he was “about to shoot the place up.” Upon receiving this alarming report, law enforcement officers quickly arrived at the back parking lot of the police department. They encountered Jones exiting a vehicle while wielding a firearm. In response to Jones firing his weapon, one of the officers returned fire.
Despite the immediate life-saving measures administered by the officers and the subsequent arrival of fire and emergency medical services, Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Fortunately, no officers sustained injuries during the exchange. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
As part of the inquiry, evidence retrieved from Jones’s vehicle included a cell phone and the firearm he was carrying. Additionally, the remains of Jones have been sent to state forensic experts for toxicological analysis and an autopsy. The findings from this investigation will eventually be presented to a Grand Jury in Lauderdale County for further review.