Critical Incident Briefing Released for Officer-Involved Shooting in Jacksonville's Holiday Hill Area
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) is releasing details and video from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Rigel Road on Monday, May 4, 2026. The details below are preliminary.
The incident resulted in the death of 33-year-old Brandon Kaphers. Kaphers had a criminal history including Aggravated Assault with a Weapon, False Imprisonment of a Minor, and other charges. If he survived his injuries, Kaphers would have been arrested for Armed Burglary with a Firearm, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
In the very late evening on May 4, Kaphers kicked in the front door of a townhome on Rigel Road; the homeowner reported Kaphers was armed with a weapon when they called for police services. Minutes later, Kaphers kicked in the front door of another townhome, went upstairs, and pointed a gun at a resident in her bedroom. The victim then called for police services. Immediately after, Kaphers kicked in the front door of a third and fourth townhome on Rigel Road.
Officers responded to Rigel Road for the multiple armed burglaries. Multiple officers arrived and gathered near their cars. Kaphers appeared between two parked vehicles and walked towards the officers, outstretching his arm and pointing his gun at the officers twice. Officers yelled at Kaphers to drop the gun, but he did not comply. Officers Comayagua, Vazquez, Palliant, and Schmidt fired shots. Kaphers fell to the ground, dropping his gun. Officers took Kaphers into custody and rendered emergency medical aid. Kaphers passed away at the hospital.
The State Attorney’s Office will independently review the incident to assess the legality of the officers’ actions. JSO will then conduct an internal review to ensure the officers acted within policy. Conclusions remain pending.
*Viewer discretion is advised: the videos are graphic.* This video contains discussions of true crime events that may be disturbing to some viewers. It is intended for mature audiences and for educational purposes only. Viewer discretion is advised. The content is presented in a storytelling style and does not promote violence or harm.
To watch the Critical Incident Briefing on JSO's social media platforms, click on one of the following links:
Facebook | X | YouTube
Information, as it becomes available regarding this Officer-Involved Shooting, will be posted on
JSO's Transparency page.
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