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Domestic violence report shows ex of Clermont man who killed self feared he'd kill her

CLERMONT, Fla. — A newly released domestic violence complaint shows the ex-girlfriend of a man who forced a Clermont police officer to fire shots at him was afraid he would kill her, their child and himself.

According to investigators, Officer James Rooney approached Waldron, 21, in a park across from Clermont Elementary about 3 p.m Tuesday.

Waldron had a blunt commonly used to smoke marijuana, and it was believed he was engaging in illegal activity, police said.

When confronted, police said, Waldron pulled out a gun and pointed it at Rooney, who then fired his weapon.

Police said Waldron fled through a crowded neighborhood into some nearby woods.

Authorities said they later found Waldron in the woods with the gun beside him, seriously hurt but alive. He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he died early Wednesday morning.

Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway said Thursday it wasn't Rooney's gunfire that killed Waldron.

"Cause of death, gunshot wound to the head. Manner of death, suicide," said Broadway.

The news came as a surprise to Waldron's family.

"It's a shock," said sister Erica O'Reilly.

Police said the signs pointing to Tuesday's incident were documented more than a month ago in a report filed by Waldron's ex-girlfriend, the mother of his 3-year-old son.

"Harassing her by text messages and verbal threats… Threatening to kill her, a child and kill himself," Broadway said.

Reports show Waldron was sending as many as 50 text messages per day and that his ex-girlfriend was in fear for her life and the life of her son.

Police said Waldron showed up at the park across the street from his son's day care on Tuesday with a .22-caliber rifle.

"I believe he was waiting for someone," said Broadway.

Waldron's sisters said he was simply there to pick up his child at day care and they refused to believe he was on a murder-suicide mission like the one his ex-girlfriend said he was planning to carry out.

"He would never do anything to his son, never, never," said sister Jodi Waldron.

"That baby right there was his life," O'Reilly said.

The report shows Waldron wasn't arrested last month because his ex-girlfriend didn't want to press charges.

The State Attorney's Office was reviewing the case until Waldron died.