Police release name of man who shot himself after running from officers

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Police Wednesday morning released the name of the man who they say took his own life Tuesday night after running from them.

According to Corporal Kevin Holbrook, the man is identified as Joshua Semon, 24, of Gainesville.

Holbrook said the officers were on patrol when they stopped Semon at America's Best Value Inn on Jesse Jewell Parkway around 10:00 p.m. to speak with him. Semon ran, although Holbrook said investigators aren't sure why. He said officers chased him into a dark, wooded area.

"During that time, officers briefly lost contact with Semon and immediately heard gunfire," said Holbrook.

He said once they heard the gunshots, the officers pulled away, called for back-up and established a perimeter.

"[Then] officers were able to utilize a hand-held FLEER system - a forward looking infra-red system - otherwise known as a night-vision system," said Holbrook. "Once they made contact with this individual in this dense, wooded area, he was found...deceased.

Wednesday morning, Holbrook said Semon died of a gunshot wound to the head.