Man hospitalized in deputy-involved shooting in Clermont

CLERMONT, Fla. — One person was taken to a hospital following a deputy-involved shooting in Clermont on Wednesday afternoon.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office told Channel 9 it responded to a call on Aria Court around 3:30 p.m. regarding someone who was reported to be suicidal.

Witnesses told Channel 9's Myrt Price that they had seen a man who appeared to be suicidal running around with a knife and who had cuts on his arms and wrists.

"He cut himself, and his grandma and some other neighbors were trying to take the knife from him," said neighbor Isabel Strausse.

Strausse said the man was out of control and one of her neighbors called the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies have not offered any details other than to say that during an interaction with the man, a deputy shot him.

"Then I heard the cops telling him to, 'Get down, get down.' He wouldn't, so they got on him and took him down," said Strausse. "The next thing I know, they waited for the helicopter to come and get him."

Markel Mitchell, brother of the man who was shot, said his brother suffered a gunshot to the abdomen, but he believes he will be OK.

"My brother is seriously hurt right now, you know what im saying?" said Mitchell.

He said his brother was going through a difficult time.

"Everybody messes up and everybody makes mistakes.  When you're out here struggling it gets hard, it gets stressful," said Mitchell.

The deputy was not injured in the incident

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, according to the Sheriff's Office.

WFTV