UPDATED @ 3:43PM Shootingr In Front Of Attorney Office In Okaloosa Co Fl

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 8929

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Sep 22 2015 8:47 AM

SHALIMAR:    We have received information there has been a murder in front of an attorney office in Shakimar, Okaloosa a County Florida.

We called public relations with Okaloosa County Sheriff. Was transferred to communications then back to public relations to voicemail. 

Information receiving is the shooting is at Cotton and Gates Attorney. A deputy is reported dead. Reports are the deputy served a injunction last evening and someone was waiting on deputy this morning. When the deputy arrived he was shot and killed.

Reports are possibly related to a divorce action.

The information is preliminary and UNCONFIRMED. We are getting from persons around SHALIMAR.

UPDATED @ 8:57 AM

According to report made by the NorthWest Florida News

The Dollar General in Shalimar is on lockdown following an 8:20 a.m. report of shots being fired in the area. Shots were fired outside the Cotton and Gates law firm, according to early reports.

There are early reports of an "officer down," according to Michele Nicholson, spokeswoman for the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

Capt. Ryan Christen, spokesman for the Ocean City Fire Control District, said a medical helicopter was called and later canceled.

A possible suspect's car has been identified and is being pursued. It might be en route to Niceville, according to early reports.

Schools in the area are operating under "enhanced security procedures," said Henry Kelley, school district spokesman.

UPDATED @ 9:05 AM

From what we understand is a officer has been shot.  The officer has been transported by ambulance emergency to a hospital. 

Conflicting reports but as we understand how... The officer is a retired officer who serves civil papers for the Sheriff Department. He served an injunction last night. The deputy went to the attorney's office this morning.

The deputy was confronted with the person he served the civil injunction on. Shots were fired and the deputy, as we understand, exchanged gunfire. The deputy was shot and transported. Medical helicopter was called but cancelled.

The gunman, we understand, is in a stairwell of a Comfort Inn where he is threatening to kill himself and in a stand off with law enforcement.

Again, this in UNCONFIRMED with authorities. We are working on details.

UPDATED@ 9:24  AM Press Release from the OCSO.

An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot this morning outside an attorney’s office on Plew Avenue in Shalimar. He was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
A call of shots fired came into the OCSO Communications Center around 8:20 a.m. this
morning.

Plew Avenue in Shalimar is currently shut down, as is a section of State Road 85, near
the 100 block section of John Sims Parkway as part of the investigation.
Additional details will be released as they become available.

UPDATED @ 10:18 AM

The public information officer with Okaloosa County Sheriff Department just returned my call. The Deputy is in surgery at this time.

We first reported this incident at 8:47 AM. The call came into the Sheriff Department about 8:20 AM.

No additional information at this time.

UPDATE:  The suspect has barricaded himself inside a room at the Comfort Inn and Suites at 148 John Sims Parkway in Niceville.  The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office and assisting agencies have shut down roadways in that area are asking the public and all motorists to avoid the area between State Roads 85 and 285.  At last word, the deputy was in critical condition.

UPDATE:

A suspect in the morning shooting of an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy is in custody. Deputies with the OCSO Special Response Team exchanged gunfire with the suspect at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Niceville and he was taken into custody at 10:21 a.m. He is being transported to a local hospital. His status is unknown. No members of the OCSO SRT Unit were injured. The injured deputy is currently undergoing surgery at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and is in critical condition.

UPDATED @ 3:25 PM

We have learned that the deputy and the shooter have now both died from their injuries. The shooter has been identified as Joel Dickson Smith. The deputy has been identified as Bill Myers, a 20 plus year veteran of law enforcement.

UPDATED @ 3:43 PM

The Deputy Sheriff killed is reported to be a granddaddy. He retired but went back to work to earn money to help with his grandchild.

The shooter had made statements if he was served an injunction he would take lives. The injunction ordered him to surrender his firearm.

Last night, reports are the shooter checked into a Niceville hotel. He worked at the post office in Niceville.

The Deputy went to serve the injunction at this attorney office. It was a prearranged meeting in order to make service of the injunction. Reports are the Deputy was told the suspect had firearms and had walked to the vehicle to take his firearms. That is when the shooting took place.

When the deputy was shot the suspect left. The shooter shot the deputy four times times in the back and the back of the head and then fled the scene.

He is reported to have called his wife telling her he had shot the deputy. The wife called law enforcement and reported what had happen.

Law Enforcement got behind the shooter and was trying to verify it was him. Before activating blue lights the suspect bolted from his vehicle even leaving his doors open. A stand off then took place at the motel.

Law Enforcement shot tear gas and the suspect came out with a weapon. The law enforcement officers then shot him multiple times.

The suspect was age 33. He had a eight month old child. A prior 2008 arrest for domestic battery.

 

 

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