A dramatic shooting unfolded Thursday as a rookie officer smashed a window and crawled through broken glass to rescue a Florida woman being held at knifepoint.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputies responded to a call from 47-year-old Jason Douglas Paul accusing his neighbor of assault, WFLA reported. When deputies arrived, Paul's behavior became increasingly erratic, and he allegedly threatened to kill both his neighbor and responding deputies.
"He's lucky I didn't snap his neck and kill him," Paul shouted, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HSCO) reports. "I'm going to get a gun, conceal it, and kill him."
When deputies attempted to detain Paul, he barricaded himself inside his home.
The situation escalated as deputies claimed they observed Paul brandishing a knife and dragging a screaming woman into a bedroom. Despite repeated orders to drop the weapon, Paul allegedly held the knife to the woman's body, prompting Deputy John Howes to act.
Smashing a window to gain entry, Howes and other deputies confronted Paul, who they claim refused to comply. Howes fired, striking Paul, who was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"Our deputies acted heroically to save an innocent woman's life," Chad Chronister, Hillsborough County Sheriff stated, praising the involved deputies.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident. Howes, with the department since February 2024, has no prior use-of-force history.
Originally published by Latin Times.
