Former FAMU student killed by police after traffic stop scuffle

Officer allegedly saw a gun in the car after pulling him over, prompting the fatal exchange

Jamee Christopher Deonte Johnson, 22, was killed in northeast of Springfield after a traffic stop. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was shot after police pulled him over for the stop and, upon seeing the weapon in the car, attempted to arrest him.

Police shot and killed a former Florida A&M University (FAMU) student Saturday night.

According to WCTV, Jamee Christopher Deonte Johnson, 22, was killed in northeast of Springfield after a traffic stop. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was shot after police pulled him over for the stop and, upon seeing the weapon in the car, attempted to arrest him.

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At first, the suspect cooperated with police, according to WCTV, but when Officer J. Garriga tried to arrest him, police said a struggle started.

Johnson reportedly jumped into his car and attempted to flee. Officer Garriga, who was behind him, told the sheriff’s office that Johnson reached for his handgun and a scuffle ensued.

During the melee, police say Johnson floored the gas as Garriga was left partially hanging out of the car. Then, they said, Johnson stopped abruptly. It was then that Garriga reportedly fired four shots at the driver.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said officers tried to perform CPR on Johnson before paramedics arrived at the scene. Johnson was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police say a pistol with an extended magazine was found inside of Johnson’s car.

Johnson recently attended FAMU, according to the university’s Communications Department, Johnson majored in Business Administration and attended FAMU from the fall of 2015 until this past spring. He had not yet earned a degree and reportedly was not attending this fall semester.

The sheriff’s office said Garriga and another officer were treated at the hospital and released for minor injuries that occurred when the car was moving.

Meanwhile State Rep. Ramon Alexander is requesting a “detailed independent investigation into the shooting, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

READ MORE: Arrest warrant issued for white man who pulled gun on FAMU students in elevator

Alexander, a FAMU alum, issued a statement on Monday.

“I have formally requested that the Office of the Governor direct FDLE to monitor and review the aforementioned police-involved shooting to gather all the facts in a timely and expeditious manner,” Alexander wrote in the statement.

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