Police shoot, kill Florida man after he pointed gun at officers, cops say
A 71-year-old Lakeland man was shot and killed by police after he pointed a gun at officers during a standoff, according to reports.
Police said neighbors reported seeing Jerry Roach, 71, outside his West Crescent Drive home around 9 p.m. Thursday yelling and pointing a shotgun in the air, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.
The 71-year-old man fired at least one shot in the air then went back into his house where at least five other people were, according to Bay News 9.
Neighbors were evacuated from their homes, WFLA Channel 8 News reported.
Negotiators spoke with Roach for about an hour.
“During the last phone conversation with one of our negotiators, he said he was coming out and officers would have to kill him,” Lakeland Police Chief Larry Giddens told reporters. “He made statements that he was bringing his shotgun with him even though numerous requests for him to exit the residence unarmed had been made by our negotiators.”
Roach eventually walked out of the back of the house with a shotgun, Bay News 9 reported.
He pointed the gun at officers and moved toward them, according to WFLA. At least six officers fired at Roach. He was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Ofc involved shooting. One suspect deceased. Multi officers fired rounds. Media parking at 600 Crevaasse St. Media staging 3500 Wilkins Dr. pic.twitter.com/QoW2quomza
— LakelandPD (@LakelandPD) November 3, 2017
No officers were injured. Those involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave during the investigation, according to WFLA.
Police are still trying to figure out what started the incident, but Roach has interacted with police before. Officers have been called to his house eight times before, according to Bay News 9.
Sara Nealeigh: 941-745-7081, @saranealeigh
This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 7:01 AM with the headline "Police shoot, kill Florida man after he pointed gun at officers, cops say."