CHIPLEY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – A suspect shot by a Chipley police officer in a Walmart parking lot on Wednesday has died, according to the Chipley police chief.
Chief Scott Thompson says the suspect has been identified as Sean Joseph Pearce, 44, of Tennessee.
Chief Thompson said he received a call about a man behaving erratically at an intersection near Chipley Walmart. Police said he was threatening vehicles, including a school bus.
When police arrived in the area, they said they found Pierce harassing customers in a parking lot. That’s when Chief Thompson said Pierce began fighting the officers, stealing one of the officers’ tasers and pointing them at him.
At the time, Chief Thompson said Pierce had been shot by police. Pierce was taken to hospital, where he later died.
Chief Thompson said two officers at the Chipley Police Department were on leave. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.
FDLE officials say they are investigating the use of force in the incident.
Chief Thompson did not confirm how many shots were fired or how many officers shot Pierce.
This is a developing story. NewsChannel 7 will update as more information becomes available.
The suspect is hospitalized after a police-involved shooting at a Chipley Walmart on Wednesday, officials say.
The suspect was taken to a local hospital and is safe with law enforcement at the scene, according to a Facebook post from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Chipley Police is the agent for this case.
We will update with more information as it becomes available.
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