SEBRING, Florida -- A Highlands County Sheriff's deputy was saved by his ballistic vest and a suspected gunman was fatally shot Thursday night.
Deputies responded 9133 Markland Lane in Sebring around 9:17 p.m. when the shooting occurred, according to a news release.
Contact was made with a female subject named Kelly Townsend inside the residence. Deputies were interviewing her regarding an active warrant for her arrest. During this interview, it was suspected a second subject named Matthew Nocerino, who also had an arrest warrant, was present at the residence as well. The warrants for Nocerino were felony warrants for burglary and grand theft.
While interviewing Townsend, Nocerino was seen walking through the residence. The deputies gave him the order to stop and come to them, but he began to run away from the deputies through the house, and the deputies gave chase.One of the deputies fired his department-issued Taser, striking Nocerino in his left hip and waist area.
The man continued to flee, running into what was described as a bedroom. Once inside the bedroom, he produced a handgun, firing and striking a deputy in his ballistic vest. At 9:36 p.m., deputies advised dispatch shots fired. At that time. at least one deputy returned fire with his agency-issued weapon, striking Nocerino several times.
Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene at 9:44 p.m. and Nocerino was pronounced deceased.
The deputy who was hit was transported to our local hospital, where he has since been released with minor injuries, thanks to his agency-issued ballistic vest.
"At this time I would ask you to keep our deputies and the decedent’s family in your prayers," Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman said in a statement. "Again what I have reported is preliminary and based strictly on evidence we currently have access to. This information could change as the investigation continues."
Those deputies involved were relieved at the scene and placed on administrative leave per policy pending an independent investigation, which will be conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office.
