Man says he was in car looking for cigarette before being shot by cops

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A man claims he was in his car looking for a cigarette when he was shot by two deputies in Pensacola.

"I complied with the order and they opened fire on me and they didn't stop, I guess, until they ran out of ammunition.  I felt like I was in front of a firing squad," said Roy Middleton.

The shooting happened outside Middleton's home early Saturday morning.

Escambia County deputies said they were responding to a 911 call about a possible car theft, when they spotted Middleton in his driveway and mistook him for a burglar.

But deputies said Middleton refused to obey their commands and lunged at them with a shiny object.

"What we see is the tragedy of this is, again, the non-compliance to the directions of law enforcement officers.  Had that occurred, we wouldn't be having this discussion," said Sheriff David Morgan of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the deputies fired at least 15 times.

Middleton, who was unarmed, was hit twice, but is OK.

The two deputies were placed on administrative leave.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said it is investigating.

WFTV