HUDSON, Fla. — One person is dead following a deputy-involved shooting in Pasco County Saturday evening.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) said it happened at the 7-Eleven on U.S. Highway 19 and New York Ave. around 5:30 p.m.
According to PSCO, Deputy Christopher Howell was on patrol when he identified a man he believed to be a wanted suspect at the gas station.
The man was 40-year-old Paul Smith, who was wanted in a battery case and had a significant criminal history of violence, according to a news release by the sheriff's office.
Bodycam footage released by PCSO shows Howell approached the suspect and attempted to engage in a conversation, but Smith ignored him.
Howell then approached Smith, who was standing near his car at a pump, and continued to ask questions. That's when the suspect became violent.
During the altercation, Howell and Smith ended up inside Smith's vehicle. Smith then drove off at a high rate of speed with the deputy inside.
According to witnesses, Howell's legs were hanging out of the car as it drove off.
PCSO says the man ignored repeated commands by Howell to stop the car. When Howell deployed his Taser, Smith continued driving.
"You're going to get shot," Howell can be heard saying in the bodycam footage.
He then fired his gun, hitting Smith.
Following the incident, the deputy and other backup units attempted to render aid to Smith, but he succumbed to his wounds. No deputies were injured.
Deputy Howell is currently on administrative leave, per PCSO's standard policy.
The use of deadly force appears to be justified, said Dr. David Thomas, Florida Gulf Coast University professor of forensic studies.
"The potential for a life-threatening injury or death was imminent, so he did what he had to do in order to stop that threat," Thomas said.
Thomas said Howell took measures to avoid using deadly force including attempting to get Smith out of the car, using verbal commands, and attempting to stop him with a Taser first.
Thomas said the deputy was left with no other options.
"It would have been a serious injury and/or death to that officer or deputy, or it would have been serious injury and/or death to a citizen, other than the suspect who created this scenario," Thomas said.
Smith previously served time in state prison. In 2018, Pasco County deputies arrested him after a chase across two counties.
He faced several charges including aggravated assault on a Hernando County deputy. Deputies released bodycam video of the arrest then.