MARATHON, Fla. – Authorities have identified the man who shot at three Monroe County Sheriff’s Office vehicles Thursday night in Marathon before apparently taking his own life as 53-year-old Duane Clayton Day of Marathon.
No law enforcement officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.
The situation unfolded at approximately 10 p.m. when the Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a man throwing objects from the roof of an apartment complex at 9 Sombrero Boulevard.
As deputies approached the building, they reportedly heard gunshots. The deputies were able to move away from their vehicles before the suspect began firing at them.
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“It appears this suspect took his own life before he could injure law enforcement officers or members of the public,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. He added that Day was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and that information indicated he had recently been divorced and lost his job.
Following the initial shots, a perimeter was quickly established around the complex. The Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was called to the scene, along with additional officers from the Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Nearby roads were closed to ensure public safety.
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Two helicopters from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, one of which carried a law enforcement sniper, also responded to the scene. One of the aerial units located the suspect, identified as Day, motionless on the roof. The SWAT Team then approached and confirmed that Day was deceased.
Authorities reported finding an AR-15 assault rifle and a Glock pistol near Day on the roof. Investigation revealed that Day was a resident of the apartment complex where the incident occurred.
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