Man struggles with police in Jacksonville pawn shop; his gun goes off and hits officer in arm

A Jacksonville man is facing six counts of attempted murder after he allegedly unsuccessfully tried to grab an officer’s gun during a struggle, then his own gun went off inside a pawn shop, hitting an officer in the arm. Edward Garvin was charged with six counts of attempted murder, because there were six people in the store at the time, according to a report in the Florida Times-Union. He was also charged with aggravated battery, resisting an officer with violence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The attempted murder charges may be a bit of a stretch in this Jacksonville Gun Crimes Case, but it will be interesting to see how aggressively the state pursues those charges. Police don’t take kindly to people trying to steal their guns and seeing one of their own shot – and neither do prosecutors. What is clear by media reports is police had been looking for this family in connection to a string of burglaries and related pawn at nearby pawn shops, the newspaper reported. Garvin’s wife and daughter were both arrested at the scene and charged with one count each of burglary and armed burglary, along with two counts of dealing in stolen property. A store clerk recognized the family as the one police had contacted local pawn shops about and called police to the store, the newspaper reported. All three are being held in the Duval County jail while the case is pending. Armed burglary is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Burglary and dealing in stolen property are both second-degree felonies punishable by up to 15 years in prison. In an armed burglary case, the law states that a person is either armed or becomes armed during the burglary. For example, if someone breaks in to a home and steals a gun, they can be charged with armed burglary – that may or may not be the case in this Jacksonville Firearm Crimes case.

Police are now likely sorting through the family’s alleged criminal operation in this Jacksonville Gun Crimes Case, figuring out who is the mastermind and who will provide them with that information. Edward Garvin is already facing the most serious charges – thanks to trying to fight the police inside the store, so it would make sense that prosecutors would be willing to reduce charges or offer lower sentences for his wife and daughter to bring him down. But, given the paper trial of documentation needed these days to pawn things, police may not need any help and could aggressively go after all three in this Jacksonville Gun Crimes case.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Gun Crimes Attorney, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.