POMONA PARK, Fla. — A Crescent City man was killed by Putnam County deputies during a shootout between the two Thursday night in Pomona Park, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) told First Coast News Friday.
Emmanuel Lee Vestal was shot and killed after "firing at deputies while barricaded in a home he had burglarized," the sheriff's office said.
At about 5:30 p.m., neighbors of the home on East Main Street called police after seeing Vestal "with no shirt" break into the residence.
The homeowner of the home told police there was a firearm inside of the residence, and neighbors reported hearing shots fired "prior to law enforcement arrival," according to the PSCO.
And after Vestal did not respond to commands made by deputies over a speaker, SWAT was called to the scene shortly before 7 p.m.; gas was then deployed to the home in an attempt to get Vestal to surrender.
"At 9:28 p.m. SWAT members attempted to enter the residence and Vestal began shooting," a news release from the sheriff's office states. "Deputies returned fire and Vestal was found deceased inside the residence. One of the deputies Vestal shot at received damage from a bullet that ricochet off his ballistic helmet."
Putnam County Sheriff H.D. Gator DeLoach said: "All of my deputies were able to go home safely to their families last night."
Police say Vestal had "several incidents" recently with law enforcement including a Baker Act stemming from a Sept. 16 911 call in which the caller stated Vestal said he had killed officers and was planning to kill another. The release states that it is unknown when Vestal was released from the hospital.
"This clearly was an unstable individual who burglarized a home, stole a firearm and intended to do harm to whoever in law enforcement responded," DeLoach said. "He tried to act out on his previously unhinged statements and we are lucky no one else was harmed or killed."
PSCO said three deputies involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave, pending the sheriff's office review, as well as other "affected members to spend time with their families."
