The normally quiet neighborhood of Woodland Waters in Weeki Wachee was the scene of a shooting at a residence this afternoon involving a Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy and Sergeant. The HCSO released the name of the individual who was shot and killed, Joseph Allen Schlosser, 69.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Schlosser was possibly suicidal and had numerous weapons inside the home. This information was first provided to the Sheriff’s Office via 9-1-1 by a healthcare professional.
The Sheriff’s Office dispatched a deputy and a Sergeant, both with with crisis intervention training. The Sergeant also has advanced de-escalation training. They encountered Schlosser within the home. The Sheriff’s Office stated that an initial attempt was made to take Schlosser into custody using “less lethal means.”
However, an unspecified number of shots were fired, injuring Schlosser who was transported to a local trauma center and pronounced deceased.
The FDLE is in charge of the investigation. Both the deputy and Sergeant have been placed on administrative leave “as per standard protocol.”
The HCSO did not release who discharged their weapon during the incident.
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UPDATE from HCSO 9/20/16:
Although still in the preliminary stages, the investigation reveals that Sergeant Gisele Dunn fired her less lethal (bean bag) shotgun at Mr. Schlosser, hitting him twice. This was done in an attempt to subdue Schlosser so he could be taken into protective custody.
Deputy James Devorak and Sergeant Gisele Dunn have provided accounts that Joseph Allen Schlosser then raised a firearm and pointed it at one of the deputies, causing both deputies to utilize deadly force in order to control the situation.
The FDLE investigation continues.
There is no additional information available at this time.