CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a deputy-involved shooting near Blanding Boulevard on Wednesday after deputies say a man made suicidal threats on a social media livestream.
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said the situation began when deputies responded to the home of 21-year-old Daniel Siewert following calls about the threats. Deputies arrived around 1 p.m. Cook said Siewert denied making any threats and did not appear to have any physical injuries, so deputies left.
Deputies did, however, spot what they believed to be a gun sitting on a table inside the home.
Hours later, CCSO received a call from a family member, who told law enforcement that Siewert said he was going to harm himself by taking excessive ibuprofen and was “ready to take on” law enforcement. Deputies returned to the house.
Cook noted Siewert had a history of mental health issues and suicidal threats. She also said that when deputies arrived at the home the first time, Siewert did not show signs of needing a Baker Act.
Around 2:30 p.m., CCSO received reports that Siewert had left the home and was sitting behind a garbage can on Blanding Boulevard, texting about getting into a shootout with law enforcement.
When deputies located him, they attempted to get him to surrender. According to Cook, Siewert pointed the gun at a deputy, prompting another deputy to open fire.
Siewert was taken to a hospital in non-life-threatening condition. No deputies were injured, and CCSO said there is no threat to the community.
“These types of calls are very scary,” Cook said. “We respond to them quite often ... The fact that we were able to get out of the situation without deputies being injured speaks to the professionalism and training of our deputies and I’m just grateful that none of our deputies were injured today.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office are now investigating the shooting.