The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating after a Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputy allegedly shot an armed man who didn’t drop his weapon Sunday morning during a large gathering in Greenville.
According to an update posted on the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, deputies responded to reports of a large crowd gathering on Main Street shortly before 1 a.m.
Deputies requested assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) at 12:49 a.m. to help disperse the crowd and shut down what was described as a “block party.” Minutes later, the communications center received multiple 911 calls reporting the growing size of the gathering and the presence of individuals with firearms in the area of Obadiah and Main Street.
While deputies and FHP troopers were on scene, several gunshots were heard nearby. Officers responded on foot toward the sound of gunfire at the intersection of Main Street and Overstreet.
At approximately 1:36 a.m., deputies and FHP encountered an armed individual who fled behind a parked vehicle. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a deputy issued multiple commands for the individual to drop the weapon. When the subject did not comply, a single shot was fired by the deputy.
“The subject was struck by the deputy’s bullet,” according to the sheriff’s office post. “The Deputies and FHP rendered aid until EMS arrived on the scene and the subject was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.”
A handgun was recovered at the scene, and an AR-15 style rifle was found inside the parked vehicle. Both weapons were collected by FDLE, which is now leading the investigation.
Sheriff David Harper confirmed that, in line with agency policy, the deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave while FDLE conducts its investigation. The case remains active.
No other injuries have been reported at this time.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Madison, Florida deputy shoots ‘armed individual’ during ‘block party’