Man shot after pointing gun at Columbia County deputies while being served eviction notice, sheriff’s office says

FORT WHITE, Fla. – The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said it is conducting a criminal investigation after a man pointed a gun at deputies who were delivering an eviction notice to his residence.

According to the sheriff’s office, three Columbia County deputies were sent to SW Washington Avenue in the Three Rivers Estates neighborhood to serve the eviction notice around 10:45 a.m.

The agency noted that the man being served the notice had “made prior threats toward law enforcement.”

“Shortly after arriving on scene, the subject of the eviction pointed a firearm at the deputies,” the sheriff’s office said. “Two of the deputies opened fire on the suspect, striking him in his lower extremities.”

The man was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition. No deputies were injured.

“This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers facing law enforcement each day,” the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said. “This incident is also a reminder that threatening harm against our deputies is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, and any attempt to harm our deputies will be dealt with accordingly.”