A 24-year-old man has died after Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies shot him during a confrontation in Inverness, Florida, after he allegedly pointed what appeared to be a firearm at them. The object was later identified as a radio.
The incident took place on Sunday, October 4, on East Seneca Street, following a 911 call from a man claiming to be armed and threatening to kill people inside a house unless deputies arrived within 10 minutes.
The caller ended the call before dispatchers could obtain further details. Investigators later determined that the address did not belong to Joey Ray Dawson and believe he used it to draw deputies to the area.
Gas mask-wearing man confronted deputies
When deputies arrived at about 5pm, Dawson emerged from a nearby wooded area wearing a gas mask. His hands were concealed inside a large backpack, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies issued verbal commands, but investigators said Dawson removed a large black object from the backpack and adopted a firing stance directed at them.
Believing they faced an immediate deadly threat, deputies opened fire, striking Dawson several times. After he fell, they handcuffed him and began emergency treatment before he was taken to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The object he had pointed at the deputies was subsequently found to be a radio rather than a gun.
Florida shooting investigation under way
The sheriff’s office has not said why Dawson made the 911 call or why he allegedly lured deputies to the location. It has also not disclosed how many shots were fired or identified which deputies discharged their weapons.
All four deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, a standard measure following a police shooting.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation into the incident.
