Suspect shot, killed after grabbing for Hernando County deputy’s gun during fight: Officials
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. - A suspect who tried grabbing a Hernando County deputy's gun during an altercation was shot and killed Thursday evening, according to officials.
Timeline:
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office said the deputy-involved shooting happened just after 9:15 p.m. along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and South Brooksville Avenue. The incident started off as a traffic stop.
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During the traffic stop, officials said Michael O'Banner, 62, ran off from the vehicle. After a short chase on foot, the responding deputy, later identified as Dylan Cianfarani, was able to catch up with the suspect near Ellington Avenue.
That's when Sheriff Al Nienhuis said O'Banner got into a "very violent struggle" with the deputy and reached for his gun. Cianfarani tried using his taser, then shot the suspect, according to authorities.
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office says a deputy shot a suspect during a violent struggle on Thursday night.
O'Banner was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound, according to the sheriff's office. Family members told FOX 13 that O'Banner later died, which HCSO later confirmed Friday afternoon.
The deputy suffered a bite mark and was treated at the scene, Nienhuis said.
Despite rumors that were circulating, the sheriff's office said that O'Banner was not shot in the back during the incident. They said a preliminary autopsy conducted by the District 5 Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that.
Dig deeper:
Nienhuis also said O'Banner has an extensive criminal history with dozens of felony convictions in several states, including Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show he was most recently released from prison in March 2024.
Deputy Cianfarani, 21, has been with HCSO for nearly three years. He's been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
What's next:
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation into the deputy-involved shooting, according to the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office said they will also be conducting an internal investigation to ensure agency policy and law enforcement best practices were followed.
The Source: This story was written using information provided by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
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