A Palm Beach Sheriff's Office deputy fatally shot a man armed with two firearms at a shopping plaza in Boynton Beach on Thursday morning, sparking an extensive investigation into the fatal confrontation. The shooting, which took place shortly before 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Hypoluxo Road and Military Trail, was rapidly followed by law enforcement and emergency personnel responding to the chaotic scene. According to The Palm Beach Post, the man was reported to have brandished a gun at several individuals prior to the arrival of deputies.
PBSO spokesperson Teri Barbera revealed that upon deputies' arrival, they confronted the man who was in possession of two guns and disregarded commands to drop a weapon and show his hands. Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, in an afternoon news conference at the scene, added the man had attempted to carjack a woman with a child in her vehicle and menaced others in their cars. "The bottom line is the deputy did everything he could to de-escalate this situation," Bradshaw told reporters.
The identity of the deceased, as well as the deputy involved, have not been disclosed as the PBSO continues its attempts to notify the man's family members. What is known is that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will probe the incident, a process customary when an officer uses deadly force. The involved deputy has been placed on paid leave, a standard procedure following such incidents.
Amidst the disturbance, a witness captured the moment on social media, stating a man was threatening people with a shotgun and a rifle at the shopping plaza’s corner. The short post on X by WIOD did not offer additional details but emphasized the danger present before law enforcement intervened. The incident marks the second officer-related shooting in Palm Beach County in the same week, underscoring a tense period for local law enforcement and the communities they serve.
The Sheriff's Office says a man was at a shopping plaza at the corner of Hypoluxo Road and Military Trail near Boynton Beach around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, threatening people with a shotgun and a rifle. https://t.co/v3bj9UGRMG
— WIOD (@WIOD) April 25, 2024
This latest shooting echoes another recent confrontation on Monday, when a Riviera Beach police officer shot and wounded 29-year-old Delroy Thomas near Suncoast High School. Thomas, who reportedly has a history of mental illness, had been involved in an altercation with an officer after he tried entering school grounds. His family shared with The Palm Beach Post that he had been evaluated for detention under Florida's Baker Act after being taken to a hospital previously. Thomas now faces multiple charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer and trespassing on schools.
