Escambia County man dies during sheriff's follow-up investigation
A deputy fired one round during the Tuesday morning encounter, and FDLE has opened an independent probe.
By Aiko Soto ·
A man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office attempted to investigate a rental vehicle early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred at a property on 9508 Sidney Road, located off Gulf Beach Highway.
Deputies arrived at the scene at approximately 12:14 a.m. to conduct a follow-up inquiry into a car that had a history of fleeing from law enforcement. The vehicle's owner had tracked its location to the property. Upon arrival, a man ran toward the back of the site.
As officers moved closer, the man produced a handgun and began pacing back and forth. Deputies issued several verbal commands instructing him to drop the weapon. He then raised the gun to his head and fired a fatal shot.
During the brief interaction, one deputy discharged a single round from their firearm. The sheriff's office stated that it is not yet clear if that bullet struck the man. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was requested to lead an independent investigation into the shooting.
The deputy who fired the round has been placed on paid administrative leave. This leave will continue until the outcome of the inquiry is determined. The sheriff's office confirmed the details of the encounter in a release issued following the incident.
