YULEE, Fla. – A man died Thursday morning after Nassau County deputies shot him because he “pointed his firearm” at them at a grave site in Green Pine Cemetery, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officials said deputies responded to the cemetery off Chester Road shortly after 9 a.m. after they were called to conduct a wellness check on someone who might have been suicidal. When deputies arrived, they said they saw a man at one of the grave sites who then pointed a pistol at his head.
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Then, deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation. However, officials said the man pointed his firearm at the deputies.
“Fearing for their lives, our deputies discharged their weapons, striking the subject, who is now deceased,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a statement. “This was not the desired outcome, but our priority is ensuring our deputies’ safety so they can return home. Our hearts go out to the individual’s family members during this difficult time.”
Three of the deputies at the scene fired at the man, according to Sheriff Bill Leeper.
No deputies were injured in this incident.
“It’s very sad. Not something that you know deputies wanted to do, but it just shows the dangers that, anytime we respond to a situation, whether it’s a traffic stop or situation like this, you never know what’s going to occur,” Leeper said.
The deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, per the sheriff’s office policy. The sheriff said they will be evaluated to make sure they are ok before they can go back to work.
The sheriff also said the man who died is local, and the names of the people involved won’t be released until after their families are notified.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is now investigating the incident.