A deputy-involved shooting investigation is underway after a knife-wielding suspect was shot and killed on Thursday night.
Around 9 p.m., the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a dispute between neighbors.
The suspect, 47-year-old J D P, called 911, claiming his neighbor punched him. Deputies said P was acting erratically and making threats to kill his neighbor.
P made comments including, “He’s lucky I didn’t kill him,” “He’s lucky I didn’t snap his neck and kill him,” and “I’m going to get a gun, conceal it, and kill him,” according to HCSO.
When deputies tried to Baker Act him after he continued his erratic behavior, P retreated inside his home and refused to come out.
According to the sheriff’s office, P yelled out to deputies, “I’m going to kill you” and “You don’t have to be here.”
P’s mother gave officials a key to the apartment, and as deputies approached, they heard a woman screaming and saw P brandishing a knife through the window of his second-floor apartment.
Deputies said P then grabbed the woman inside by the neck and pulled her into a back bedroom at knifepoint. That’s when officials smashed the window and forced themselves inside.
P was ordered several times to drop the knife, which was being held against the woman’s body.
At that point, Deputy J H shot and killed P.
P was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. According to the sheriff’s office, P has a criminal history of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence.
Howes has been with HCSO since February 2024 and does not have a history of force.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the deputy-involved shooting.
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Source: wfla
