CHIPLEY — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is taking the lead in the investigation of a fatal shooting by one or more officers from Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and the Bonifay Police Department.
According to a press release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, deputies from Washington County were called to a report of a man with a rifle walking along State 90 Tuesday night. Deputies driving that stretch found the man, who raised his weapon toward the deputies’ vehicle or vehicles.
The man fled into the woods nearby as the deputies took evasive action and called for backup. Officers were somehow able to speak with the man but he refused to surrender and instead emerged from the woods and advanced toward officers with his gun raised.
Unidentified officers shot him an undisclosed number of times, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Washington County officials immediately contacted the FDLE to lead the investigation and directed all questions to that agency.
The man has not been officially identified pending notification of next of kin.
FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said Wednesday the investigation still is in the early stages. Investigators were conducting interviews and working to develop a timeline of the events, she said.
“Our job is to determine the facts and present them to the State Attorney’s Office,” which will determine whether charges are warranted or if the shooting was justified, Plessinger said.