Man wanted in Lake County shoots self in standoff atop apartment complex

SWAT team called to Eustis apartments

EUSTIS, Fla. – A man wanted by the Lake County Sheriff's Office armed himself, climbed atop an apartment building in Eustis and shot himself, officials say.

According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies went to the home on South Bay Street on Monday to serve a warrant for felony violation of drug probation. The man, who was armed with a handgun and appeared to be suicidal, fled from the apartment, went to the roof of the building and refused to surrender, deputies said.

Deputies said the man was continuously uncooperative and taunting the SWAT team, saying he wouldn't go back to jail.

"At this point, we had waited it out. And we had given him several opportunities to surrender," said Lt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff's Office. "He was very adamant that he was not going to surrender and not go back to jail."

Deputies said they tried to distract him with loud, explosive flashbangs when the man shot himself and was taken to the hospital. His condition is unknown.

The incident caused Bay Street to be closed in both directions, backing up traffic in the area and causing school buses to be rerouted. No schools were locked down during the incident, according to deputies.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.


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