POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Nunez and Deputy Nicole Lyons were both presented the Life Saving Medal due to their efforts likely saving the lives of the suspect’s family.
Deputy Nunez and Deputy Nicole Lyons were both presented the Life Saving Medal due to their efforts likely saving the lives of the suspect’s family.
“Deputy Toney Nunez remained focused and calm in this highly stressful situation in which he was shot in the chest, and is hereby presented the Medal of Honor,” said Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
On October 12, 2022, Deputies Nicole Lyons, a 17-year veteran, and Tony Nunez, a 16-year veteran, responded to a family disturbance in Davenport.
An estranged husband, 41-year-old Gabriel Batista of Orlando, was banging on woman’s house in an attempt to get inside, but when the two deputies arrived, the suspect was gone.
But the man soon returned and confronted the deputies as exited his vehicle with his hands behind his back.
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The deputies gave verbal orders for Batista to show his hands. During this time, Deputy Lyons held her Taser, and Deputy Nunez held his firearm.
Batista continued to conceal his hands, not complying with the deputies’ orders to show his hands, so Deputy Lyons attempted to subdue him with the Taser. As the Taser was fired, Batista brought a 9mm pistol he concealed behind his back toward the deputies and began shooting at them.
Of the six shots fired by Batista, one struck Deputy Nunez in the center of his chest. The bullet was stopped by the bulletproof vest that Nunez was wearing.
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Deputy Nunez was able to get one shot off at Batista, but missed. However, Batista quickly threw down his gun and surrendered, and was immediately taken into custody by both deputies.
According to deputies, Nunez’s bulletproof vest and a St. Michael medallion stopped the suspect’s round from entering his chest.
After his arrest, Batista told detectives that when he learned law enforcement responded to the residence, he chose to return to commit “second-hand suicide.”
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