Sheriff Eric Aden today praised the composure and training of two Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies confronted by an armed man who fired shots during a domestic violence related incident in Destin Wednesday. When the 45-year old suspect fired at deputies who had responded to the call of an armed disturbance at a home under construction on Sailmaker Lane, they returned fire. The suspect was hit multiple times and died at the scene.
“First and foremost our deputies are safe. Our citizens are safe. They did an incredible job of controlling the situation despite the stress of a violent encounter, ” said Sheriff Aden. “They not only moved people out of danger when they first arrived, they communicated well and moved toward the threat to protect our citizens”.
An autopsy was to be conducted today. Sheriff Aden says the OCSO was working to confirm the suspect’s identity, but he’s believed to be an undocumented immigrant who had been deported from the U.S. in 2012. He had been living in the Fort Walton Beach area.
Investigators say his ex-wife was working in the area when the suspect showed up at the construction site with a gun, forcing her to run for safety. Although he fired a shot at her inside the house, she was not injured.
