Accused Sword-Wielding Man Injured In Pasco Co. Deputy Shooting

PASCO COUNTY, FL — A Thanksgiving night police shooting injured a man accused of waving a sword near children in the area of Boland Avenue in Shady Hills, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

The deputies were conducting a welfare check around 11 p.m. when the man was found inside his home, authorities said. The suspect's name has not been released.

Earlier in the day, neighbors told authorities the man had been behaving oddly and swinging the sword around children, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a news conference.

"The neighborhood was in fear during the day because of this individual," Nocco said.

Body camera footage released Thursday by the sheriff's office appears to show a deputy arriving at the man's home, where he is heard notifying dispatchers that swords were found in the man's backyard.

The deputy could then be heard announcing himself to the resident. Nocco said the man then left the home with a shotgun.

The video footage appears to show the deputy drawing his weapon and telling the man to "drop it now" before gunfire is heard.

The man was shot, and deputies immediately rendered aid, authorities said. The man's injuries were not life-threatening, and he was taken to a local hospital, authorities said.

Nocco said the man will survive his injuries.

A sword and a gun were retrieved at the scene, authorities said.

The man's blood alcohol content was 0.307, Nocco said.

"That's four times the legal limit," Nocco said. "We're not sure of other substances he had in his body at the time."

The deputy who fired the shot at the man was placed on administrative leave, per department policy, authorities said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the police shooting.