In a harrowing incident that unfolded on a bustling street in Brandon, Florida, deputies fatally shot a man who was seen brandishing an assault rifle. Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies responded to multiple 911 calls about 7:24 a.m. Wednesday reporting a man dressed in combat attire and armed with a rifle near the intersection of Windingwood Avenue and Providence Road, a stone's throw from local businesses and a Lowe’s shopping center, as reported by WFLA.
After deputies arrived on the scene and repeatedly commanded the man to drop his weapon, the confrontation ended with gunfire at 7:38 a.m. The man, later identified as 34-year-old Vincent Tyler Morin, was shot by authorities and succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a hospital, according to details provided by WFLA. Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer described the scene, emphasizing the high stakes. “Whatever his intentions were, they were not peaceful. You don’t dress in army fatigues, with a tac vest, with body armor, a fully loaded assault rifle, and comms on your head to do anything peaceful,” Maurer stated.
The Tampa Bay Times reported that body camera and aerial footage from the sheriff’s helicopter was released later on Wednesday, depicting the critical moment when deputies opened fire on Morin, who held the rifle to his chest.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement obtained by the WFLA that, "This was an extremely dangerous situation for our community. An individual armed with an assault rifle and dressed in tactical gear posed a real and immediate threat." The three deputies involved, Lt. William Gergel, Deputy Matthew Fluck, and Deputy Courtney Baldwin, have been placed on administrative leave as per routine, with an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement forthcoming.
Records note that Morin has two previous arrests in Florida. He faced a DUI charge in Brevard County in 2022 and was arrested for trespassing and marijuana possession earlier this year. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Morin was labeled as "disabled" in booking records.
