Man walking alongside the road carrying gun exchanges fire with Columbia Co deputies, sheriff says

LAKE CITY, Fla. — A dispute turned into a deputy-involved shooting in Columbia County Monday, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said a man was walking on the side of the road holding a handgun near NE Thomas Camp Road when he began pointing the gun at his head and at deputies.

At some point during their interaction, the man started firing at the deputies and the deputies fired back.

After firing, the shooter then ran into the woods and a perimeter was set up around the area to contain him.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT and Negotiation Teams attempted to create a peaceful resolution but were ultimately unsuccessful.

According to officials, negotiations deteriorated and deputies were concerned the man may have been injured in the earlier exchange, so they expedited their process to arrest him.

When he was arrested, the deputies learned he had a gunshot wound and provided medical care until EMS arrived and transported him to a hospital.

It is not clear whether the gunshot wound was self-inflicted or from law enforcement from the earlier gunfire exchange.

No deputies were injured during this encounter.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation into the deputy-involved shooting. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is also conducting an internal review.

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