Brian Gillis, who was fatally shot by police, had a documented history of mental health struggles and was reportedly experiencing a crisis at the time.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has released bodyworn camera video showing the moments leading up to the fatal police shooting of 30-year-old Brian Gillis earlier this month.
Officers confronted Gillis on Aug. 13 after his family called 911, reporting he had vandalized and set fire to a neighbor’s home.
The family and a neighbor told police that Gillis, who had a documented history of mental health struggles, was dissociated from reality and asked that he be held for a mental health evaluation.
Bodyworn camera footage from Officer Bumgarner shows him encountering Gillis near East 25th Street and Buckman Street.
Investigators say Gillis, armed with a large knife, ignored repeated commands to drop the weapon.
Bumgarner initially armed himself with a Taser but then drew his handgun and fired, fatally shooting Gillis.
Legal expert and former federal chief prosecutor Curtis Fallgatter called the incident horrific questioning why deadly force was used so quickly.
“He actually had a Taser in his hand, so he had the capability of using the dog to take control of the situation,” Fallgatter said. “He had the ability to use a Taser, which is nonlethal, and instead fired seven shots at a man who was probably 60-70 feet away from him. So, hard to see that as a justifiable use of force.”
Fallgatter explained the Florida Supreme Court guidelines for deadly force.
“You’re justified in using deadly force if it’s reasonably believed that such force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or another,” he said. “Obviously, there’s no threat of death to the officer. There were no other people around, no neighbors. It was a quiet sidewalk at the time, so there’s no evidence that there was a threat of imminent death to the officer or anybody else.”
The State Attorney’s Office is now reviewing the case to determine whether the shooting was justified.
“By definition, the man died, so definitely a homicide,” Fallgatter said. “The question is, is there justifiable use of force? If not, the officer presumably can be charged with homicide.”
Once the criminal investigation is complete, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will conduct an internal review and convene a Response to Resistance Board, with final findings to be submitted to the Sheriff for review.