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PHOTOS: That’s no rock: Air Force bomb squad called after land mines found on Florida beachĬlick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV. Video released by the sheriff’s office shows the chaotic scene, and shots rang out from the gunman and deputies.
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Ivey said the injured deputy was shot in the leg and also struck with the butt of what he described as a short-stock rifle. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office released dashcam video Thursday of an ambush shooting that ended with the gunmen dead and a deputy. READ: Sheriff: Manhunt underway after woman, baby found dead in car in Orange County “When you look at the video, but for the grace of God, our two deputies, or those two innocent bystanders, or that baby could have died at the scene,” Ivey said. WATCH: ‘I played dead and I prayed’: Girl remains hospitalized after family killed in Polk County shootingĪt the time of the shooting, Paris Wilder, 38, had two active bench warrants for his arrest in connection to two separate drug cases. I'm just extremely thankful that our deputies are safe and the suspect is no longer on this planet where he could put someone else's life in peril.Moments after offering to watch a 2-month-old in the back of that car, Deputy Brian Potters was forced to run for his life when the suspect jumped out of the car with a weapon.Īs deputies were speaking to people inside of the car, a third man jumped out of the backseat and opened fire on the deputies.īrevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey identified the suspect as a “career criminal” who was out on bond. Sheriff Ivey added (emphasis added): "As I have said several times before…if you point a gun at one of my Deputies you just guaranteed yourself a trip to one of three locations…the hospital, the morgue, or if you are real lucky…the hospital and jail!. He told reports that he spoke to both deputies to let them know: “ how proud I am for the way they responded to this extremely violent thug who ambushed and attempted to kill both of our Deputies as well as put other lives at risk, including a 2-month-old baby who was in the backseat of the car where the suspect first began firing from." More than 61 rounds were fired in less than one minutes during the firefight.īrevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said “I'm just extremely thankful that our deputies are safe and the suspect is no longer on this planet where he could put someone else's life in peril." Deputy Thoman emptied his 2nd clip into Wilder to ensure the threat was eliminated. Wilder’s weapon had apparently jammed, so he used the butt of the rifle to bash the head of Deputy Potters who sustained a broken sinus and orbital bone.ĭeputy Thoman managed to shoot Wilder as he stood over Potters beating him. As the attack on the injured deputy continued, the original deputy was able to end the threat by using deadly force and shooting Wilder.” The injured deputy was also attacked by Wilder with multiple strikes to the head with the butt of the rifle. During the exchange of gunfire, one deputy was shot in the lower leg and sustained a non-life threatening injury.
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The gunman was later identified as 38-year-old Paris Wilder, a career criminal with 40 previous arrests including 23 felony arrests.įrom the Brevard County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office press release: “When the suspect was asked to exit the vehicle, Wilder immediately opened the door armed with a rifle and began shooting at the deputies. Deputies returned fire in an effort to save their own lives, as well as the lives of others at the scene, which included a 2-month-old infant located in the rear of the suspect vehicle.