An investigation is under way into the death of a man who was shot by an officer when he reached for a firearm in Fruitland Park.
Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 300 block of East Mirror Lake Drive at 2:50 a.m. Wednesday, according to a press release from the Fruitland Park Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officers saw a man walking away from a crashed pickup truck while carrying a hatchet. The officers commanded him to stop, but he refused. He continued to walk away and stated he “just wanted to go home.”
Another officer then arrived on scene and continued to command the individual to drop the hatchet. During the encounter, the individual reached for a firearm, at which time an officer aimed and shot him.
The individual was struck by gunfire, and, despite continued commands, did not immediately relinquish the firearm. Officers on scene rendered medical aid; however, the individual died as a result of being shot. No officers were injured during this incident.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation into this incident, which is standard protocol. The Fruitland Park Police Department is fully cooperating with both the FDLE and the state attorney’s office.