Man who pointed rifle at deputies killed by SWAT team in Palm City

PALM CITY, Fla. (CBS12) — The Martin County Sheriff's Office said the SWAT team had to shoot a man armed with a rifle after investigators say he refused to comply with orders to drop it and aimed it at deputies.

The man, identified as 47-year-old Justin Caldwell, died at the hospital.

The sheriff's office said it expected two deputies to be on administrative leave which is standard protocol when deadly force is used.

According to the sheriff's office, it responded to an "armed and dangerous" call just after 7 a.m.at a home along Racket Club Drive in the gated West Village and Crane Creek neighborhood of Palm City.

Investigators said the caller, Caldwell's husband, and two daughters, aged 13 and 11, managed to get out of the home. Crisis negotiators unsuccessfully tried to get the man to come out unarmed.

The sheriff's office said Caldwell came into the driveway of the home and approached officers with a rifle-type weapon in his hand. He refused to drop it and pointed it at deputies.

“I think it's horrible!” said Nancy Mudge, who lives in the same neighborhood.“That’s awful! That’s just awful. There’s nothing else I can say. It's an awful thing to happen," she said.

Chief Deputy Robert Seaman, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, said SWAT team members had to defend themselves and opened fire.

No word on how many shots were fired, or if Caldwell also fired. The sheriff's office says it's early in the investigation.

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Caldwell had multiple firearms and ammunition inside his garage. The sheriff's office said the FBI has been notified of the incident, per protocol.

"Being in law enforcement you don't start the day anticipating this type of situation to occur," said Seaman. "It is troubling to see the amount of calls related to domestic mental type issues."

As for a motive, Seaman said the man's wife told dispatch Caldwell made statements about a desire to engage with deputies and get shot.

Caldwell was rushed to a hospital but he did not survive.

A sheriff’s official says its unclear how many shots the SWAT team fired or how many shots hit Caldwell.

“Things are getting crazy. The world is crazy now. Nothing surprises me anymore with this virus and everything else," said Mudge.

According to a sheriff’s official, Caldwell worked as a pilot.