Two Sarasota County officers shot and killed a burglary suspect who, according to investigators, slashed another deputy with a machete after breaking into a residence Thursday morning.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to the home near Richardson Way and Fruitville Road around 9:30 a.m. after the homeowner dialed 911.
The homeowner, who’d been sleeping in an apartment connected to his residence, told emergency responders that he awoke to find an unidentified man sharpening a machete with a baseball bat in the apartment.
“I have an intruder that broke into my home. He’s got a damn machete and he’s a little whacked,” said the homeowner in the 911 call.
The victim fled the apartment as he dialed 911, and deputies arrived minutes later to discover the suspect still inside, according to the sheriff’s office.
“I woke up on a mattress and there’s a guy lying next to me saying, ‘I love you’. I’m weirded out. He’s got my machete in his hand. Boy, thank God they got here quick.” the homeowner said on the call.
Four officers ended up going into the efficiency unit, where they said the accused person approached them with the machete, slashing one of the deputies’ hands and resulting in a severe injury.
Two other deputies then fired their weapons, striking the suspect.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies immediately started CPR on the suspect, but he died at the scene.
Investigators have not yet identified the suspect.
The hurt deputy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he will need hand surgery. According to a sheriff’s office spokesperson, the injury was considered critical even though it was not life-threatening.
