JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Friends and fellow service members are remembering Christopher Ford, the 45-year-old man shot and killed by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office sergeant Tuesday afternoon, as a heat, easygoing one who was all the time prepared to speak.
JSO says Ford approached a sergeant doing paperwork at a substation on West Beaver Street round 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Chief of Investigators Michael Paul stated a short dialog preceded Ford pulling out a handgun and firing towards the officer. Ford missed, putting the constructing. The sergeant then fired again, hitting Ford. Fire rescue transported him to UF Health, the place he died.
Navy veteran recollects Ford as a pure chief
Rashad Menefee, who served with Ford aboard the USS Philippine Sea, stated he realized in regards to the shooting after seeing a Facebook put up from Ford hours earlier than the incident.
“I thought it was kind of strange, but I was like, oh, I’m sure people, they’re going to check in on him, make sure he’s good,” Menefee stated. “And then later on, I went back and looked, and I saw the comments, and I saw someone had said, it’s on the news. So I Googled it, and saw what happened. And I was just like, this is crazy, honestly. Like it’s sad, disheartening, because obviously… It seemed like the post was a cry for help.”
Menefee stated he knew Ford totally on knowledgeable degree however described him as somebody straightforward to attach with.
“He was very personable,” Menefee stated. “You could talk to him, work stuff, personal life stuff, it didn’t matter. Like he was just always easygoing.”
He added that Ford’s dying has hit those that served beneath him particularly arduous. “He was a good leader, and all the people under him, they’re definitely taking it hard.”
Fellow sailor: ‘A wonderful husband and father’
Another sailor who served with Ford declined to be interviewed on digicam however advised News4Jax that Ford was “a wonderful Sailor, husband, and father” who “always had the interest of others in his heart.”
JSO: Ford had been Baker Acted in February
JSO confirmed Ford had been Baker Acted in February 2026. News4Jax requested the company whether or not it plans to evaluation or replace its coverage for de-escalating encounters involving people experiencing a psychological well being disaster. JSO referred again to the incident briefing and stated physique digicam footage could be out there inside 21 days.
Resources
Here is a listing of psychological well being assets out there in Florida.
UF Health St. Johns Behavioral Health Resource Center – open 24/7 with clinicians on workers and out there to help throughout a disaster. No appointment is required.
EPIC Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team – 24/7 service for people 26+, dial 988, and a response will happen inside 60 minutes of the request.
EPIC Access Support Center – Walk-in companies for psychological well being at their North Campus, Northwest Campus, and Flagler Campus. If this service is required, walk-in throughout hours or name (904) 495-7001.
Mobile Response Team – 24/7 service for people 5-25 years outdated. Dial 988 or 911 and a response will happen inside 60 minutes of the request.
Vinson Foundation – A assist group for St. Johns, Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, and Orange Park, for households who misplaced somebody to suicide.
St. Augustine Youth Services: 904-829-1770
Call 211 – Local specialists can be found 24/7 to assist. Calls to 211 are confidential and may be nameless.
Hope for Healing Florida – Hope for Healing navigates the numerous methods Floridians can entry assist for psychological well being and substance abuse
These assets may be accessed nationwide.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – Call or textual content 988 for assist. The Lifeline gives 24/7, free, and confidential assist for individuals in misery, prevention, and disaster assets for you or somebody you understand.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) gives assets for points with psychological well being, medicine, or alcohol.
Veterans Crisis Line – Text 838255 or name 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
Crisis Text Line – Text “Home” to 741741
Teen Line – Text “Teen” to 839863
If you or anybody you understand wants assist, you may name the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
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