UDPATE: Woman dead after officer-involved shooting on Fort Myers Beach
UPDATE: This story is being updated with new information.
Debi Lynn Thorkelson, 54, died from injuries sustained during an altercation with the Lee County Sherriff’s Office Thursday.
At 5:16 p.m., deputies responded to a 911 hang-up call on Lazy Way, Fort Myers Beach.
According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office, upon arrival deputies attempted to communicate with Thorkelson. The woman pointed a firearm, potentially a rifle, at a deputy. Then, fearing for his life and safety, the deputy shot at her. Thorkelson “succumbed to her injuries” on scene, according to the release.
One witness said the standoff continued for at least an hour and there may have been other occupants in the home which has since been roped off with police tape.
The Sheriff’s Office held a press conference on-scene Thursday after the incident,
According to Town officials who attended a press conference, the officer involved was not injured.
Those attending the briefing were told a woman had barricaded herself in a home with a long gun. Town officials said a civilian died in the incident but it was not clear as to whether it was the woman with the weapon or how the person incurred injury.
Mayor Dennis Boback said he saw several police vehicles traveling down Estero Boulevard en route Thursday evening.
“I saw several cop cars running down Fort Myers Beach at a high speed,” he said.
The incident is still under investigation. Four deputies have been put on administrative leave per protocol for the nature of the case, the release stated.
UDPATE: Woman dead after officer-involved shooting on Fort Myers Beach
UPDATE: This story is being updated with new information.
The individual who died in an officer-involved shooting on Fort Myers Beach Thursday has been identified as Debi Lynn Thorkelson, 54.
Thorkelson was shot after she pointed a gun at a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy, officials said.
“The subject pointed a firearm that appeared to be a rifle at a deputy,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a prepared statement released Friday afternoon. “The deputy, fearing for his life and safety, discharged his firearm.”
Thorkelson “succumbed to her injuries” on scene.
The incident occurred after deputies responded to a 911 hang-up call at at 431 Lazy Way at 5:16 p.m.
According to the statement, arriving deputies had attempted to communicate with Thorkelson before she pointed the weapon.
One witness said the standoff had continued for at least an hour and there may have been other occupants in the home, which was subsequently roped off with police tape.
The Sheriff’s Office held a press conference on-scene Thursday after the shooting.
According to Town officials who attended, the officer involved was not injured.
Mayor Dennis Boback said he saw several police vehicles traveling down Estero Boulevard en route Thursday evening.
“I saw several cop cars running down Fort Myers Beach at a high speed,” he said.
The incident remained under investigation Friday afternoon. Four deputies have been put on administrative leave per protocol for the nature of the case, the release stated.
Original post:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is on the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Fort Myers Beach.
The incident occurred on Lazy Way.
According to Town officials who attended a press conference, an officer was not injured. *
Those attending the briefing were told a woman had barricaded herself in a home with a long gun. Town officials said a civilian died in the incident but it was not clear as to whether it was the woman with the weapon or how the person incurred injury.
One witness said the standoff continued for at least an hour and there may have been other occupants in the home which has since been roped off with police tape.
Mayor Dennis Boback said he saw several police vehicles traveling down Estero Boulevard en route.
“I saw several cop cars running down Fort Myers Beach at a high speed,” he said.
* Update: The officer involved in the shooting was uninjured. This story has been updated to reflect new information.