Palatka shooting: Driver rams car into crowd gathered at Florida block party; at least 2 police officers open fire
City of Palatka Approved Block Party, FloridaOn the evening of Saturday, May 9, a driver plowed into the crowd, causing chaos. Several people, including two Palatka police officers, shot at him, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident resulted in several people being sent to multiple victims to area hospitals. According to News 4 Jax , deputies said the incident happened at the intersection of 20th and Eagle streets around 8 p.m.
What we know about the shooting so far
The extent of injuries to those taken to local hospitals remains unclear. The crowd dispersed from the scene. An estimated 1,000 people regrouped at the Middleton Mall at 18th and Reed streets.
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“There was a heavy law enforcement presence in the area, including the Palatka Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol and our deputies to disperse the crowd,” the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Deputies said Putnam County Sheriff HD “Gator” DeLoach is working with the Palatka Police Department to ensure there are adequate resources to keep the community safe. The investigation is being led by the Palatka Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Authorities believe the incident was isolated.
The Palatka Police Department confirmed in a Facebook post that a suspect has been arrested detained.
“On May 9, 2026 at approximately 8:00 p.m., the Palatka Police Department was hosting a block party in the area of North 20th Place and Eagle Street when a suspect currently in police custody drove through the crowd and struck multiple attendees and vehicles in the area,” the Palatka Police Department wrote. “Law enforcement officers attempted to stop the suspect, who fled the scene and returned a short time later, striking a patrol car, other participants and vehicles. Officers on scene attempted to stop the suspect and fired shots at the suspect during the incident. The suspect was transported to a nearby hospital and is currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the confrontation.”
The post added: “At this time, there have been no reports of injuries to law enforcement officers. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has been notified and is actively investigating the officer-involved shooting and processing multiple crime scenes related to the incident. This information is preliminary and remains part of an active investigation. More details and updates will be released as they become available.”
