Seminole County sheriff’s deputies shoot and kill a man in Sanford

SANFORD, Fla. – Seminole County sheriff’s deputies shot dead a 26-year-old man in Sanford on Thursday after authorities received a call about a woman calling for help, officials said.

The deadly shots were reported shortly before 2 a.m. on Riverview Avenue, near Narcissus Avenue, south of Lake Monroe and north of U.S. Highway 17.

[TRENDING: What does full approval of Pfizer jab really mean? | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]

Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma identified the man as Samuel Kirk, who was shot five times by two deputies.

Kirk, who is believed to be a Navy veteran, was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, Lemma said. Deputies were not injured.

Announcements

According to Lemma, authorities received a 911 call from someone saying a woman needed help because they were hurting her.

Deputies investigated, but the woman had already left in a vehicle, Lemma said. Then deputies knocked on the door of a house on Riverview Avenue and Kirk walked out of the house and into the parking lot, pointing a gun at the deputies and firing a shot, Lemma said.

One of the deputies covered up, and she and another deputy fired about 15 shots and attacked Kirk five times, Lemma said.

Deputies helped Kirk, who was rushed to a hospital, officials said.

Lemma said Kirk had met the woman he called 911 who said he needed help at a downtown Sanford bar about a week ago. Lemma said Kirk and the woman were drinking at the bar Wednesday night and Kirk drove an Uber home. The woman followed him home to make sure he got there safely when the two got into an altercation, Lemma said.

Announcements

According to Lemma, Kirk hit the woman on the ground and began suffocating her. He called for help and walked away, officials said.

“When they were in front of his house, this is where the verbal disturbance occurred. He started yelling and yelling, “You’re hurting me, help me,” the neighbors heard. Neighbors called 911, ”said Lemma.

Maximilian Ranieri, who lives on Riverview Avenue, said he woke up to the sound of gunfire. He said his sister called 911.

“Immediately, as soon as I heard that I woke up, I knew they were shot and I suspected it was in our front yard or our street neighbors,” Ranieri said.

Lemma said deputies, both hired less than two years ago, repeatedly called for Kirk to drop the gun. He said MPs were shaken but not physically harmed and credited his quick actions to save his life.

The Florida law enforcement department will investigate the shooting and deputies will be on leave, which is the usual procedure in shootings.

Announcements

---

Use the form below to register at ClickOrlando.com 16:00 Trend newsletter, which is sent every day of the week.