Deputy-involved shooting sends man, deputy to hospital

A man and a deputy are being treated at the hospital after deputies returned fire at a suspect when the suspect fired at them, according to Bay News 9.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident in which a 36-year-old man was shot multiple times in the legs by two deputies, according to Bay News 9.

The suspect shot at deputies during an encounter on U.S. 19 and Gulf Drive in New Port Richey, Bay News 9 reported.

One of the deputies was shot but not seriously injured, as the suspect had a pellet gun, according to Bay News 9. The suspect and the deputy were taken to the hospital and treated for what officials believe are non-life threatening injuries.

In a press conference Monday night, Pasco officials said that one deputy worked at the office for several years and the other was in training.

A man was walking down U.S. 19 when the deputies encountered him, carrying what officials said “appeared to be black firearm,” and deputies had to make a “split-second decision.”

The sheriff’s office received two 911 calls from a man who said he was homicidal, according to a tweet from the sheriff’s office. It is believed the suspect was the person who called 911.

The deputies encouraged the suspect to drop the gun for about a minute before the suspect fired, shooting one deputy twice, according to sheriff’s office officials. A tweet from the sheriff’s office said “deputies showed constraint by shooting the lower body.”

Officials said the suspect has several convictions including battery and theft dating back to 2012.

This story was originally published July 3, 2017 at 10:47 PM with the headline "Deputy-involved shooting sends man, deputy to hospital."