Leonardo Little, a 33-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Florida, died on November 24, 2014, during a police-involved incident. According to reports, Little was pulled over by Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) Patrol Officer Cecil Grant for driving with an expired tag. During the traffic stop, it was discovered that Little was driving on a suspended license and had a criminal history. When Officer Grant attempted to handcuff him, Little resisted arrest, leading to a physical altercation.
Despite the officer's attempts to subdue him with a Taser, Little managed to wrestle the Taser away from Grant. In response, Officer Grant fired his weapon, striking Little twice—once in the mid-section and once in the leg—resulting in Little's death at the scene.
The incident sparked an investigation by the State Attorney's Office and a JSO Use of Force panel to determine the appropriateness of the officer's actions. Officer Grant, who had been with the JSO for one year, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The review concluded that Officer Grant was justified in his use of force, given the circumstances of the altercation and the threat posed by Little's actions.
Leonardo Little had a history of legal troubles, including three previous arrests for domestic battery, two for resisting police, and one for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. He was also classified as a habitual traffic offender. During the traffic stop, a female passenger in Little's car reported that he expressed a determination not to return to jail, which may have influenced his decision to resist arrest.
The case highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers during routine traffic stops and the complexities involved in use-of-force decisions. The incident was one of several police-involved shootings in Jacksonville that year, contributing to ongoing discussions about police practices and accountability.
