DELTONA, Fla. – A Volusia County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a gunman following a dispute over a $17 cab fare, according to officials.
Authorities said Robert Teter, 39, died Monday night after being taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds.
Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant said the incident started when an Eco taxi driver and Teter had a dispute over the cab fare after returning from a liquor store.
Deputies said Teter's credit card declined and the cab driver couldn't accept checks. That's when Teter went inside the home, prompting the cab driver to call authorities.
"They knocked on the door, he wouldn't answer, they noticed he was loading a gun and right after that was when he opened the door and shot and the officers fired back," said Natalie Stroh, who lives nearby.
Sheriff Ben Johnson said when deputies arrived, Teter came out of a home with a gun.
"(Deputies) tried to get him to drop the gun, (but) he did not," Johnson said. "At which time, our deputies opened fire and the man was shot. The man was pointing the firearm at them. The man was threatening them with the firearm."
Johnson said the deputies felt their lives were in danger.
"You pull a gun on a cop and don't drop it, bad things are going to happen," Johnson said.
Teter, who was struck by three bullets, was airlifted to a hospital, where he died.
"Really unfortunate that such a small nuisance turned into a tragedy because a man had been shot and died," said Andrew Gaworowski.
While authorities said Teter was initially trying to pay his cab fare, News 6 obtained cell phone video where you can supposedly hear the cab driver saying he was willing to accept the check but Teter refused.
News 6 tried speaking with Teter's family,but they refused to comment.
Some neighbors were shaken by the incident.
"It was terrifying. I mean, I'm 22-weeks pregnant (and) alone in my house. I was terrified," Stroh said. " I've never gone through anything like this, and this neighborhood is extremely quiet."
Johnson said Deputy Kyle Cowger, 28, has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard practice in a deputy-involved shooting. Cowger has been with the Sheriff's Office for seven months and has never been disciplined.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.