The suspect, Joel Dixon Smith, was later killed in a hotel shootout with a tactical team, officials said.
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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said deputies responded to a call Monday about suspected drug activity at an Auburndale home. “We pray for his soul and for his family and was ask that the community pray for them as well, and for all the men and women who have the courage in these troubled times to put their lives on the line for others”, Ashley said.
A veteran sheriff’s deputy who was shot and killed while serving a domestic violence restraining order had come out of retirement to earn money for trips to Disney World with his young granddaughter.
“When someone shoots a law officer, they have nothing to lose”, she said.
Myers had met Smith at a Shalimar law office earlier in the day.
Smith told Myers that his guns were in his truck.
Smith has also died after he was shot by deputies in a later incident. There were four shell casings found at the scene but it wasn’t immediately clear if Smith fired each round.
After repeated commands to surrender, Judd said, Fuller showed only his left hand while keeping the right hand hidden behind his back.
On Tuesday, the OCSO had coordinated through Smith and his attorney to voluntarily submit to the injunction service.
“Certainly there was no indication… that there was violence to be expected”, Ashley said.
Joel Dixon Smith, 33, was later killed by police after he barricaded himself in a hotel room, the sheriff’s office said.
At the scene of the shooting, Wray said he and another man tried to talk to the deputy, but he didn’t reply. He charged out firing and was fatally shot by deputies, Ashley said. He died at the same hospital as the deputy.
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In a written statement late Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Rick Scott said, “Today, our hearts are broken to learn of the death of Deputy Bill Myers”. He was committed to this thing we call law enforcement. “I can’t say enough about this community”.
