PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – A man wielding a sword and acting erratically was shot by Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies in Shady Hills on Thanksgiving evening after he emerged from his home with a shotgun.
The incident, which occurred in the area of Boland Avenue, began earlier in the day when the man was seen swinging a sword in the street, alarming neighbors and children. He then retreated into his home, where he reportedly blared music, threw objects, and sent disturbing messages to neighbors.
Around 7:30 PM, deputies responded to multiple calls and arrived to perform a welfare check. They announced their presence, knocked on the door, and even saw the sword in the backyard.
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Tragically, the situation escalated when the man exited the house carrying a shotgun. Despite deputies’ commands to lower the weapon, he did not comply, forcing them to fire.
The man was injured and transported to the hospital, where he is expected to survive. He was found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .307, nearly four times the legal limit.
Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco expressed sadness over the incident, especially on Thanksgiving Day. He emphasized that the man’s actions caused fear and harm in the community, leading to a critical incident that no one wanted.
“This is another unfortunate incident, our deputies, do it on Thanksgiving,” Nocco stated. “We just want a peaceful day. Unfortunately, they’ve seen a lot of tragedy today.”
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