Irish pub owner shot after pointing gun at officers during standoff, police say

Leonard Nolan expected to be charged after release from hospital

LONGWOOD, Fla. – The owner of an Irish pub was shot after he pointed a gun at officers during a standoff Monday evening, according to the Longwood Police Department.

Leonard Robert Nolan, 49, was taken to a hospital, but is expected to survive.

Criminal charges are pending, following Nolan's release from the hospital, officials said.

Officials said that the standoff at Connolly's Irish Pub on Ronald Reagan Boulevard began when Nolan called 911 and hung up.

When authorities arrived at the pub, the owner could be seen through the window yelling and waving a gun around, according to authorities.

No one else was in the pub with Nolan.

Police said the man pointed a gun toward officers through the window, which is when authorities shot him. Nolan was then rushed to the hospital.

Longwood police blocked off the area around the pub while the events unfolded. People nearby told News 6 they were scared, and hid in the back of stores. 

"We heard probably about six shots, then we saw the SWAT teams come out," said Cheryl Bryant, who hid in her store across the street. 

Bryant said she was hiding when an armored truck and dozens of police cars rushed over to Connolly's Irish Pub.

"It was pretty scary, so we stayed toward the back of the store behind the refrigeration, where it was safe -- so if any bullets came through, it was going to penetrate the business," Bryant said. 

It was the SWAT team that took a shot through the window at the man, hitting him before making its way inside and taking the man into custody.

"When he became more agitated and started to point the firearm out the window toward law enforcement, then they had to make the decision to fire," said Kim Cannady with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

It's still unclear what led up to this.

As standard procedure, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the officer-involved
shooting, and the deputy has been placed on administrative leave.

Watch News 6 for updates.


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