Authorities in Jacksonville, Florida are currently searching for a suspect who shot and critically injured a Nassau County Sheriff’s Office deputy. The incident occurred Friday afternoon during an attempted traffic stop. According to the report, Deputy Joshua Moyers attempted a traffic stop on a United States Marine veteran identified as 35-year-old Patrick McDowell. During the stop, McDowell fired his weapon striking Moyers in the face and the back before driving away. Moyers was rushed to UF Health Jacksonville with life-threatening injuries. McDowell was also said to have shot a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K9 with a rifle after they joined the search. Authorities are still searching for McDowell who they say suffers from PTSD, depression, seizers and who is a skilled marksman.
NEW: We learned Patrick McDowell stayed at Five Star Veterans Center twice. Once in 2020 and another time just a few months ago. Employees describe him as “aloof” and “detached.” @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/sS5UTgmmuz
— Gretchen Kernbach (@GretchenK_TV) September 24, 2021
McDowell is described as “armed and dangerous. ” Officials say they are continuing to patrol two-lane northbound lanes of U.S. 301 south of Callahan in the search for McDowell.