Body-worn camera video released Monday shows Hernando County deputies tackling a man inside a Brooksville Walmart after a multi-county alert tied to an aggravated assault with a firearm in neighboring Citrus County. The clip shows the suspect placing two guns on top of his vehicle, then walking into the store holding a Bible before being taken down near the customer-service desk as startled shoppers look on.
Hernando Sheriff’s Office Posts Body-Cam Footage
In a Facebook post, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office shared the body-worn camera video and said deputies moved in after getting word from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office about an active investigation tied to aggravated assault with a firearm. Facebook carried the clip, along with the agency’s description connecting the arrest to the Citrus County case.
Multi-County Alert Leads Deputies To Brooksville Store
Sheriff Al Nienhuis said deputies were contacted before 8 a.m. after Citrus County reported possible shots fired near Highway 98 and U.S. 19 in the area of a Publix, prompting a BOLO on the suspect vehicle. An unmarked Hernando deputy later spotted the car at the Brooksville Walmart and tried to pull it over. According to the sheriff, the driver instead took off briefly, then stopped near the front barriers, left two firearms on top of the vehicle, and walked into the store with a Bible in hand. Tampa Bay 28 reported that sequence of events.
Who Was Arrested And What He Is Charged With
The sheriff’s office identified the suspect as 39-year-old Steven Sheehan of Dunnellon, born Aug. 4, 1986. According to the agency, Sheehan was booked on charges that include two counts of improper exhibition of a firearm and one count of fleeing or eluding law enforcement. Officials added that additional Citrus County charges related to aggravated assault with a firearm are expected as investigators coordinate with prosecutors there. The video and charging details were shared on Facebook.
Body-Cams And Public Release Policies
Florida law and local rules spell out when agencies can release body-worn camera footage, and departments in the region have increasingly opted to push out video after high-profile encounters. Sheriffs in nearby counties have publicized body-cam clips as part of transparency efforts and to update residents on ongoing cases, a practice that has grown in recent years. For a look at that broader trend, R News and ClickOrlando have reported on similar releases in other Central Florida counties.
What Happens Next
Sheriff Nienhuis said Hernando investigators are working closely with Citrus County authorities and that more charges could be filed as the aggravated-assault case moves forward. According to local coverage, Sheehan remained in custody while formal filings are prepared and officials sort out transfer between jurisdictions. Deputies made the arrest inside the Walmart without any reported injuries to shoppers or law enforcement, and the criminal case is expected to proceed through the Citrus County prosecutorial process, Tampa Bay 28 reported.
