Man facing 3 counts of attempted murder after exchange of gunfire with Jacksonville police

John Ervin, 34, is facing multiple charges after he was taken into custody following an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators were called to a home Sunday afternoon on Edgewood Avenue. According to police, Ervin shot at them multiple times, and they shot back, but no one was injured.

“The caller stated that this subject was armed with a firearm and wanted to basically get in a shootout with a law enforcement officer in order to kill himself,” JSO Assistant Chief Shawn Coarsey said Sunday night.

Three minutes after police arrived at the house, dozens of officers surrounded the road and Ervin began shooting at police, Coarsey said.

“The subject came out of the residence and fired at least five rounds at those officers, hitting one of the cars,” Coarsey said.

Police said Ervin ran back inside the home. Eventually, two other people who were inside the house escaped and Ervin surrendered.

Records show he is facing three counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a gun by a convicted felon. He didn’t speak during his appearance in court Monday.

Court records show that in 2012, Ervin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting at two people. He was released in May.

This is the 10th shooting involving police this year in Jacksonville. Five incidents have been deadly, three include someone who was wounded, and no injuries were reported in two.

Family and friends were in court Monday to see Ervin, but didn’t want to speak about the shooting.

His next court date is Nov. 8, and his bond is set at $850,000.