The man approached deputies wearing a gas mask and backpack after authorities were summoned to an Inverness home, the sheriff said.
INVERNESS, Fla. — A man died after Citrus County sheriff’s deputies shot him Sunday evening during an encounter that began with a 911 caller threatening to start shooting people unless law enforcement arrived at an Inverness home within 10 minutes, Sheriff David Vincent said.
Authorities have not released the man’s identity or explained exactly what deputies saw that caused them to open fire. Vincent said the encounter happened after deputies responded around 5 p.m. to a residence on East Seneca Street. No deputies were injured, and officials said there was no continuing threat to the public.
According to Vincent, the caller told authorities that law enforcement needed to get to the home within 10 minutes before he began shooting people. Deputies went to the address and initially tried to contact anyone who might be inside the residence.
A few minutes later, a man came out of a wooded area across the street and approached deputies, Vincent said. The man was wearing a gas mask and carrying a backpack. The sheriff said deputies gave him multiple commands, but he did not comply.
Vincent said deputies eventually perceived a threat and fired at the man. Authorities have not publicly described the specific action or circumstances that deputies considered threatening, nor have they said whether investigators recovered a weapon. Officials also have not released information explaining why the man was wearing the gas mask or what was inside the backpack.
The man received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to a hospital. He was later pronounced dead, according to authorities. Initial reports released while the response was still unfolding had described him as hospitalized and in law enforcement custody before officials later confirmed his death.
No law enforcement officers were hurt during the encounter, Vincent said. The sheriff’s office initially warned residents about an increased police presence around East Seneca Street and asked people to avoid the area while deputies and investigators worked at the scene.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is expected to investigate the shooting, a standard step after a deputy-involved shooting. The deputies who fired their weapons are being placed on paid administrative leave under agency policy while the review proceeds.
Several details remain unanswered, including the man’s identity, whether he was the person who made the threatening 911 call and what specifically prompted deputies to fire. Authorities had not announced additional findings from the state investigation by Monday morning.
Author note: Last updated October 5, 2026.