PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – A man is dead, and a Pasco deputy is being evaluated at the hospital following a deputy-involved shooting in Hudson on Saturday.
Around 5:30 p.m., a Pasco Sheriff’s deputy recognized the suspect, identified as Paul Smith, 40, as being wanted in a battery by strangulation case, in addition to Smith having a significant criminal history of violence.
The deputy instructed Smith to get out of the car, but he did not comply.
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Instead, Smith started to speed and drive recklessly away, with the deputy hanging from the open door of the car. The deputy instructed Smith to stop multiple times before the deputy deployed his taser.
After the deployment of the taser, the deputy warned Smith he would shoot if he did not stop the car. Smith continued to drive recklessly, ignoring the additional commands, and the deputy then shot Smith.
Following the shooting, the deputy was able to stop the vehicle and immediately rendered aid to Smith. However, as a result of his injuries, Smith is deceased.
All lanes of US 19 between New York Avenue and Bolton Avenue were closed for several hours.
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