Altamonte Springs man armed with knife shot, killed by police

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Altamonte Springs police said one of their officers was forced to shoot a man armed with a knife early Sunday morning.

Police were called to an apartment in the 200 block of Lorraine Drive just after 12:30 a.m. in reference to a suicidal person.

"Officers responded, and immediately were confronted by the subject and an officer did shoot the subject armed with a knife," said Robert Pelton, with the Altamonte Springs Police Department. "He took the means to protect himself and anyone else around him"

The man, identified as 34-year-old Anthony Lynn Skyles, was shot by the first officer at the scene after investigators said he confronted the officer a knife.

The officer was not injured during the confrontation.

"Anytime something like this happens, we fear for the community. Anytime the officer has to use force, deadly force, it is something that they don't take lightly," Pelton said. "It's a very unfortunate situation here tonight."

Skyles was taken to Florida Hospital Altamonte, where he was pronounced dead.

His wife, who did not want to be identified, said Skyles needed help.

"My husband was a wonderful man. He did not deserve this," she said. "He has had a lot of deaths in his family and he just wanted to talk to a psychiatrist."

Some neighbors ran outside when they heard the commotion.

"I heard the gun shot and when I walked out, all of the sudden I see all of the police surrounding (the area) and I heard they shot somebody," said Luis Torres. "If they had a gun I could see it, but with a knife? Why'd they have to shoot him? From my understanding he was quiet."

Police said they’ve had contact with Skyles in the past.

As a matter of policy, the unidentified officer has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

WFTV