Pasco deputies return fire on 'suicidal' man

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that left one man dead.

It happened at Many Mansions RV park on Steward Road.

Deputies say they had no choice but to fire on the man, who they say was suicidal.

The man was conscious and alert as he was transported, but he died at the hospital, deputies say.

This all started at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday when the man’s roommate called and said he was being suicidal.

Deputies believe he took 100 Valium pills in an attempt to kill himself.

When deputies got there, they tried to communicate with him for several minutes. They say he came out of his home with a shotgun and fired towards the deputies.

Two deputies fired back, hitting him at least once.

"When somebody comes out of a trailer pointing a gun at our deputies, screaming [expletives], they had no other choice,” Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said. “I thank God they're going home to their families tonight because they came here to save his life but his actions dictated our reactions."

Sheriff Nocco says the deputies will be placed on administrative leave so they can be interviewed and then given assistance.

Deputies are also interviewing the man’s roommate.