Innocent Man Shot to Death Inside Own Apartment by Deputies Who Mistook Him for Attempted Murder Suspect
A 26-year-old Florida man was shot and killed by Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies early Sunday morning after being mistaken for attempted murder suspect Jonathan Brown.
After receiving reports that Brown was spotted at the Blueberry Hills Apartment complex, officers arrived at 1:30 AM to find his motorcycle parked near Andrew Lee Scott's front door.
"When we knocked on the door, the door opened and the occupant of that apartment was pointing a gun at deputies and that's when we opened fire and killed him," said Lt. John Herrell. Deputies quickly realized they had shot the wrong man.
Despite the fact that the deputies never identified themselves as law enforcement officers, Herrell blamed the incident on Scott, saying "the bottom line is, you point a gun at a deputy sheriff or police office, you're going to get shot."
Brown was later found at another apartment complex. He and a second suspect were arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail.
An investigation into the incident by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is ongoing, and the deputy who killed Scott has been placed on administrative leave.
