The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office has disclosed that the suspect who was shot by a 21-year-old deputy on Feb. 6 has died as a result of his injuries.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Michael O’Banner, age 62, was pulled over for a traffic stop in South Brooksville at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and South Brooksville Avenue. He decided to flee on foot. The deputy pursued the suspect and caught up with him near Ellington Avenue. A physical altercation ensued where a preliminary investigation by the Sheriff’s Office indicates the suspect reached for the deputy’s firearm. The deputy shot the suspect during the altercation.
The Sheriff’s Office also notes that a preliminary autopsy report has revealed that O’Banner was not shot in the back.
The deputy will be placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation by FDLE. The HCSO will also investigate the incident internally to ensure agency policy and law enforcement best practices were followed.
