Immokalee groups take stand after Collier sheriff’s deputies shoot man who ran at them

Reporter: Gina Tomlinson, Rich Kolko Writer: Drew Hill
Published: Updated:

The actions of law enforcement are being questioned by people in Immokalee after Collier County deputies shot a man last week.

The memorial is still erected for the 37-year-old man and father shot and killed by deputies last week. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office says the man was charging at them with a shovel.

Now, groups in Immokalee, such as “Showing up for Racial Justice,” are standing up for the man. They’re demanding the record of the deputy who opened fire and footage from the dashboard camera from when deputies responded early Thursday.

“Cops just shot someone on my road,” you can hear in the cellphone video shot by neighbor.

A neighbor apparently called 911 about the man being outside her home. Investigators say the man then refused to put down the shovel and another sharp object in his possession when he charged toward deputies.

“That dude had a shovel. He threw the shovel down and they shot him instead of tasering him,” you can hear in the video.

The groups are arguing that instead of shooting him, Collier County sheriff’s deputies could’ve taken another approach.

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