A deputy fatally shot a man who cops say was waving a pistol at a Florida Publix
THURSDAY UPDATE: Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office identified the man shot and said he’d died.
A call about a suspicious person in a Palm Beach County Publix parking lot ended with a 21-year-old shot to death, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said.
PBSO said Jose Villanueva died Wednesday after being shot Monday evening by a deputy.
A 6:05 p.m. call about a suspicious person brought deputies to the Publix in Greenacres, 4840 S. Military Tr. Before they got there, PBSO said, the man later identified as Villanueva had fired a pistol into the air several times.
After 20 minutes of deputies trying to talk the weapon out of Villanueva’s hand, PBSO said, he waved the gun “in a threatening manner at deputies.” One of the deputies shot him.
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Later, PBSO said Villanueva’s past included being taken into custody under the Baker Act more than once.
As is standard, the deputy will be put on paid administrative leave. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will lead the investigation into the shooting, assisted by the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office and PBSO’s violent crimes unit.
This story was originally published September 27, 2022 at 12:24 PM.
