NAVARRE — A 55-year-old man died after a shootout with Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies early Saturday morning, but his exact cause of death had not been released Monday morning.
Lt. Leland Butcher said Sunday that deputies shot at Jeffrey Wright and struck him, but he did not say whether the deputies’ fire was fatal or if he died from self-inflicted wounds or any other cause.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.
Butcher said FDLE should release a preliminary report to the Sheriff’s Office Monday.
They plan to release more information to the public then, he said.
Deputies were attempting to arrest Wright on counterfeiting charges at his home on Avenida De Galvez in Navarre on Friday about 9:40 p.m.
Wright barricaded himself in the home, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A single gunshot was heard coming from the home, but Wright was still alive.
SWAT team members attempted to negotiate with Wright, but he refused to surrender, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Sometime later gunshots were heard and deputies exchanged fire with Wright.
At least one of the deputies shot Wright, Butcher said. He said he did know whether that was the round that killed him.
Wright died at the scene.
The incident lasted about four hours.
The Sheriff’s Office had not released information on whether Wright or the deputies fired first.
State investigators will review the shooting to determine whether the use of force was warranted, said Steve Arthur, an FDLE spokesperson.
The investigation could last several weeks.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Sage Reinlie at 850-315-4443 or lreinlie@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenRnwfdn.