Jacksonville's State Attorney has ruled that police were legally justified in the March 2025 shooting death of 28-year-old Alquan Suydam, in a case that has divided his family's account of events from the official police narrative. Suydam was shot multiple times by officers on Toledo Road near Old Kings Road after police say he pointed a handgun at them following a domestic incident involving his pregnant girlfriend.
State Attorney Melissa Nelson's office issued the ruling on September 8, finding the shooting justified under applicable Florida law, according to Action News Jax. The formal clearance letter, tied to death investigation case CCR#2025-0183703, was addressed directly to Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Chief Erica Weber, according to JSO Open Data records. The Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney describes the criminal-review role as determining whether a criminal violation can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Florida Statutes § 776.012 covers force used when a person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm or a forcible felony, while § 776.05 addresses force during an arrest.
What Police Said Happened on Toledo Road
Police say they responded to a domestic incident involving Suydam and his pregnant girlfriend on March 30, 2025, after officers were told he had punched her in the stomach, per Action News Jax. Officers say Suydam exited a car and began walking away despite orders to stop, then pointed a handgun at responding officers before officers opened fire. First responders provided medical aid at the scene, but Suydam died at a hospital.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released a Critical Incident Briefing on April 16, 2025.
Girlfriend Disputes Police Account
Whitney Howard, Suydam's pregnant girlfriend and the person present at the scene, publicly disputed the department's version of events in the days after the shooting. She told Action News Jax, as reported by 104.5 WOKV, that Suydam never punched her in the stomach and that the two had only been involved in a verbal argument before police arrived. The department's initial account followed a call to the location by Suydam's aunt over domestic-violence concerns. Neither account has been altered by the State Attorney's ruling, which addressed only the legal justification for the officers' use of force, not the underlying dispute over what happened between Suydam and Howard before police arrived.
Community Coalition Pushes for Oversight
In January, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee joined Suydam's family to form a coalition of families affected by JSO shootings, demanding independent civilian oversight of the department, faster release of evidence, and non-police responses to mental health crises, according to Fight Back! News. The coalition also called for a Public Safety Committee to provide civilian oversight of JSO use-of-force incidents.
Suydam's family and the coalition have organized a remembrance and birthday celebration for him at Cuba Hunter Park, 4380 Emerson Park in Jacksonville, starting at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, per Action News Jax.
