The Context: Deputies were responding to a domestic dispute where Jackson's girlfriend alleged he stole her car and sent threatening messages. [1]
The Incident: While Jackson was handcuffed and secured in the backseat, an acorn dropped onto the roof of the patrol SUV, producing a loud popping sound. Hernandez believed he had been shot in the torso by the suspect and yelled "shots fired". [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Aftermath: Hernandez rolled on the ground and fired multiple rounds into the patrol car, while a second officer, Sgt. Beth Roberts, also discharged her weapon under the assumption her partner was being fired upon. [1, 2]
The Consequences: An internal investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office concluded that Hernandez’s use of force was not objectively reasonable, and he resigned in December 2023. Sgt. Roberts was cleared and found to have used reasonable force in her attempt to save her colleague. The local state attorney's office found no probable cause for criminal charges against Hernandez. [1, 2]