Knife-Wielding Man Shot, Tased By Pasco Deputies

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A 38-year-old man was injured in a deputy-involved shooting Friday morning at Little Road, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said.

Deputies responded around 8:15 a.m. to the area after receiving reports someone was trying to break into a gun store, he said at a news conference.

The man had been banging on the business and attempting to bash into its window with a metal sign, Nocco said. A person in a neighboring gas station asked him what he was doing, and he replied, "I'm trying to break into this gun store," Nocco said.

A be-on-the-lookout alert was sent, and officers located him on Little Road, Nocco said, adding the man showed a knife when deputies approached him.

The deputies intended to use less-lethal force, but while they were preparing, the man ran toward them with the knife, Nocco said.

Deputies then shot lethal and less-lethal rounds at the man, Nocco said. When he went down, he hit his head on the ground, Nocco said.

In addition to gunfire, the deputies also tried using tasers, Nocco said.

As he was being handcuffed and was given medical aid, the suspect told the deputies, "Thank you," Nocco said. The man, who has not been identified, was charged on suspicion of attempted burglary and aggravated assault on law enforcement.

Nocco promised to release body camera footage of the incident.

"They were doing everything in their power to de-escalate the situation," he said, later adding the man was "in extremely close proximity to the deputies."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.