Jacksonville, Florida: A man was fatally shot by a Jacksonville police officer Tuesday morning outside a Gate gas station near Bowden Road and Interstate 95 after authorities said he threatened employees, told them to call police, and then moved toward responding officers with a gun raised. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said officers were dispatched at about 9:20 a.m. for what was initially reported as an armed robbery.
According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect entered the gas station while customers and employees were inside and waited until other customers had left. Investigators said he then pulled out a handgun and ordered employees to get out of the store. Police said the man made statements about wanting to harm himself and told employees to call law enforcement.
JSO said that while employees were outside, the man opened the door and threatened to come out shooting. After officers arrived, he repeated that threat to police, according to Undersheriff Shawn Coarsey. The sheriff’s office said the man then closed the door briefly, reopened it, raised his handgun, and quickly walked toward the officers. That is when Officer Cascante fired several times with a rifle, fatally striking him. Police said the suspect did not fire his weapon before he was shot.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office publicly identified the officer who fired as Officer H. Cascante. The agency said no officers were injured. JSO also said this was the sixth officer-involved shooting involving the agency in 2026. According to the sheriff’s office, the State Attorney’s Office responded to the scene and will conduct its investigation before JSO completes its own internal review.
The suspect was identified as Michael Krause Jr.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
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When a suspect announces violent intent before or during an officer’s make contact, treat that language as a declaration. Our research revealed that a declaration was a sentinel cue and highly predictable for ensuing violence.
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In gas station or retail parking lot scenes, identify backdrop risks early because vehicle lanes, windows, and nearby businesses complicate both movement and fire decisions.
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Use clear verbal roles among responding officers so one officer is focused on commands, another on lethal cover, and others on crossfire and containment.
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Do not assume a suspect must fire first to create an imminent deadly threat if the totality of behavior shows an armed approach, threat statements, and rapid movement toward officers.
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
