Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office gunned down a dangerous man who was dressed in body armor and walking while carrying a fully loaded assault rifle.
Several 911 calls reporting the suspicious man sent police to an area near Windingwood Avenue and Providence Road in Brandon at around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The deputies located 34-year-old Vincent Morin, who was reportedly dressed in battle fatigues with body armor, a communications headset, a loaded assault rifle, and two magazines.
Morin ignored the deputies’ multiple commands asking him to drop his weapon. Three deputies then opened fire, fatally striking the man.
“That suspect, whatever his intentions were, were not peaceful. You don’t dress in Army fatigues with a tac vest with body armor, a fully loaded assault rifle, and comms on your head to do anything peaceful,” said HCSO Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer.
The three deputies who fired at Morin are on paid leave pending the outcome of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation.
