LAKELAND, Fla. — An armed homeowner, reportedly grieving the recent death of his wife, was shot and killed Friday after the Polk County Sheriff's Office says he pointed a gun at a deputy.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says the man called 911 on Black Friday to report a suspicious person, although one was never found.
When a deputy responded around 10:30 a.m. Friday to the man's home on Saddlehorn Drive in Lakeland, Judd says the homeowner came to the door with a firearm.
Investigators say the deputy backed away, urging the man to put down the weapon. But, authorities say when the homeowner exited the house and pointed the gun at the 15-year sheriff's office veteran, the deputy was forced to shoot him once in the chest -- killing him.
"This is a classic suicide by cop," Sheriff Judd said. "...all he was doing was defending himself."
Judd expressed his condolences to the family of the homeowner who he says was spending his first Thanksgiving weekend without his spouse.
Judd described the situation as a "horrible event" -- adding there was no way the homeowner could have mistaken the deputy for anyone but a member of law enforcement.
No deputies were hurt. An investigation is underway.
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