The Okaloosa County, Florida Sheriff's deputy who was fatally shot while serving a domestic violence injunction Tuesday was previously retired, but came back part-time this year so that he could save money to take his granddaughter to Disney World.
Deputy Bill Myers had just finished serving the injunction to 33-year old Joel Dixon Smith at Cotton and Gates Law Firm in Shalimar around 8:20 a.m. when he was shot multiple times in the back, including a gunshot wound to the rear of his head.
Myers was transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Officials said that Smith fled the scene and drove to the Comfort Inn and Suites in Niceville where he barricaded himself inside a room. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team evacuated the building and shot the suspect after he exited his room with a weapon around 11:13 a.m.
Smith also was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where he later died.
"I can't say enough good things about Deputy Myers, so I won't attempt to tell you the good things about that man," Larry R. Ashley said during a press conference. "He was dedicated, he was a professional, he was committed to this thing we call law enforcement. He was committed to the people of his community"
Ashley said that although Myers had retired in 2013, he rejoined the Sheriff's Office part-time to assist with Civil Process in order to earn extra spending cash to take his granddaughter, Abby, to Disney World.
"That's what he loved to do. He loved Disney World and he loved his granddaughter," the sheriff said. "He will be sorely missed."
Myers had been with the department for more than 25 years and is survived by his wife, Jan, his son, Sean, and grandchildren Abby, Eric and Adam.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
