A heavy law enforcement presence descended on Huntley Street in New Port Richey midday Thursday after deputies say a man fired a gun multiple times into the ground at his residence and then barricaded himself inside when officers arrived. Roads between Gilmer Street and Markham Street were shut down as the standoff unfolded, with deputies working to make contact with the man and resolve the situation peacefully.
According to the Pasco Sheriff
, deputies responded to the area around 12:20 p.m. Thursday after receiving reports of the gunfire. The agency described the man as having barricaded himself inside the residence upon law enforcement's arrival, and said deputies were attempting to make contact and bring about a peaceful resolution as the scene developed.
Road Closures and an Isolated Incident
Officials shut down roads between Gilmer Street and Markham Street while the response was underway, limiting access through that stretch of New Port Richey. The sheriff's office characterized the incident as isolated. No details on the man's identity, the address involved, or whether anyone was injured have been released.
Deputies responded to the scene while nearby streets were closed.
Pasco County Has Seen Barricade Calls Before
Barricaded-subject incidents are not unheard of in the New Port Richey area. In March 2018, deputies responded to a home on Appletree Road in nearby Holiday after 47-year-old Dean Moran barricaded himself inside, according to Patch. In that case, Moran fired a shotgun through his front door, and a piece of wood struck a man in the head, causing a minor injury. Patch reported that after Moran failed to respond to a patrol unit trying to speak with him, the Pasco County SWAT team was summoned and later entered the home; Moran was ultimately charged with burglary battery, criminal mischief, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
It remains unclear how Thursday's incident on Huntley Street compares to that earlier case, since the Pasco Sheriff's Office has not released information on whether the man was taken into custody or what, if anything, he may be charged with. The agency's statement focused solely on the immediate public safety response: the gunfire report, the barricade, the road closures, and deputies' effort to reach a peaceful outcome.
What Comes Next
Deputies attempted to make contact with the man inside the residence.
