At about 4:23 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, a St. Johns County deputy performed a traffic stop in the northwestern part of the county.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office reports that, as the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver fired one round from a gun. In reaction, the deputy fired one round, the Sheriff’s Office reports.
The man in the vehicle has been identified as Joshua Thornton. He was the only occupant of the vehicle. He has been pronounced dead.
The deputy involved was Deputy Jylton Tusha, who was not injured.
Tusha has been with the Sheriff’s Office since Oct. 14, 2019, and this is his first officer-involved shooting.
The St. Johns County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the manner of death as suicide, and the cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Thornton also sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder, the result of the round fired by Tusha; however, that wound was determined to be non-life-threatening.
No one else was injured, and no property was damaged as a result of this incident.
“This is an unfortunate situation for all involved and illustrates the dangers of this profession and that a deputy sheriff never really knows what they are approaching,” said Sheriff Robert Hardwick. “We ask that you keep those involved in your thoughts and prayers, including the deceased’s family.”
The Sheriff’s Office recognizes the importance of mental health and encourages anyone who may be struggling or who knows of someone struggling to reach out for help. There are many resources available, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available 24/7 at 800-273-8255. In addition, the National Alliance on Mental Health at 800-950-6264 is available 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Sheriff’s Office asked that the public respect the privacy of those involved with this incident.
