MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – A tense standoff in Marathon concluded late Thursday night with a gunman, who had fired upon Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) vehicles with an AR-15 assault rifle, apparently taking his own life. No deputies were injured during the incident.
The incident started around 10 p.m. when the Sheriff’s Office received reports of a man throwing objects from the roof of an apartment complex on Sombrero Boulevard. According to initial reports, some sources indicated the man was throwing bottles at passing traffic from the roof of a condominium at Number 9, Sombrero Road.
READ :Brush Fire Forces Closure Of 18-Mile Stretch And Card Sound Road, Disrupting Florida Keys Traffic
As deputies approached the building, they heard gunshots. The gunman then began firing at the deputies’ vehicles. Fortunately, the deputies were not in their vehicles at the time and were unharmed.
A perimeter was quickly established around the apartment complex. The MCSO SWAT Team was activated, and assistance was called in from multiple agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Roads in the vicinity were cordoned off.
Two helicopters dispatched from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office provided air support, one of which carried a law enforcement sniper.
One of the Miami-Dade helicopters observed the suspect motionless on the roof of the building. The SWAT Team subsequently approached and confirmed that the suspect was deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. An AR-15 rifle was found at his side.
READ: FBI Opens Formal Investigation Into Letitia James Over Mortgage Fraud Allegations
As of early Friday morning, detectives were still working to identify the male suspect and investigate the circumstances and motive behind the incident.
“I am relieved no Deputies or members of the public were harmed during this incident,” Monroe County Sheriff Ramsay stated. “I want to thank the brave Deputies and Officers who responded and ran toward danger to ensure our community’s safety.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
