Still image from body camera video show a Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy confronting an armed man before an officer-involved shooting in Riverview, Florida.Hillsborough County SO/Facebook
A body-worn camera video released by the Hillsborough County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office shows a domestic violence suspect pointing a gun at a deputy before the supect was shot and wounded.
The incident occurred March 23 just before 4 a.m. HCSO deputies responded to a domestic violence call at a home in Riverview.
At the scene deputies found a woman who had been physically assaulted, the sheriff’s office says. They were told the suspect, 50-year-old Manuel Alvarez, was armed and inside the home.
Deputies entered the home and called out to the suspect while searching. Body camera video shows a man pointing what appears to be a pistol at a deputy before the deputy opened fire and shot the man.
Alvarez was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
“This was a volatile and dangerous situation that could have turned deadly for our deputies and others. Our deputies are trained to make critical decisions under pressure, and in this case, our deputy made a split-second decision to not only protect himself, but everyone in that home,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said on Facebook. "This incident began with an act of domestic violence, a heartbreaking reality that affects individuals and families in our community. If you are a victim of abuse, I urge you to contact law enforcement. There is support, there are resources, and there is a way out."
