PENSACOLA, Fla. — An officer-involved shooting Wednesday afternoon left a male suspect dead outside the Carlton Palms Condominiums, prompting an investigation by state authorities.
Authorities responded to a call around 3:40 p.m. reporting shots fired within the residential complex on Garden Street. Police discovered a man firing his weapon on the first floor of the building.
“At least four shots were fired by the suspect before officers arrived,” said Officer Mike Wood. Once on the scene, officers began a sweep of the building, ensuring that no residents were injured during the incident.
Andrea Putre, a resident of the first floor, recounted a chilling encounter with the suspect. “He was just standing there with a gun in his hand, staring at me. I was fortunate he decided not to pull the trigger,” she stated.
As officers arrived, they spotted the suspect in the parking lot, gun in hand. They ordered him to drop the weapon, but the suspect failed to comply. In response, the officers discharged their weapons, striking the man.
Emergency medical personnel transported the suspect to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “He repeatedly refused commands to put the weapon down, which led to the officers firing their weapons,” Wood explained.
Fortunately, no officers were injured during the incident. The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation unfolds.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation into the shooting. Community members are left to grapple with the gravity of the situation, while authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the tragic outcome.