Man killed by St. Johns County law enforcement pointed gun at officers SJSO says

Jacksonville, Fl — A call for help for an intoxicated man is what led to a man being killed by law enforcement in St. Johns County. The St. Augustine Police Department and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call Tuesday night.

The sheriff’s office says a man tried driving drunk from a home on Masters Drive in St. Augustine and that man has been identified as 28-year-old Dustin Acosta from St. Augustine. They say when people tried to stop him, he pulled out a gun. When a police officer and deputy arrived, they say the man met them at the door and there was a confrontation. That led to both law enforcement officers firing their guns. An update on Wednesday from the sheriff’s office says both the officer and deputy tried to deescalate the situation by trying to get Acosta to put down the gun, but instead the sheriff’s office says he pointed it at the deputy and officer when led them to shoot him. Acosta was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff’s office says Acosta’s manner of death has been ruled a homicide and death by gunshot by the medical examiner’s office. SJSO says the two law enforcement officers involved have been identified as SGT. Kevin Carroll with the St. Augustine Police Department and Deputy Kristapher James with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. Neither were injured during the incident and we’re told this is the first officer involved shooting incident for each of them. Both are on paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation, which is standard.

The incident remains under investigation.

Cox Media Group