POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A man was killed in a deputy-involved shooting Friday morning after he opened his front door to a deputy and raised his gun at him, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
Kenneth Layton, 60, was shot and killed by Deputy Sheriff Chad Nichols after Layton was repeatedly told to lower his gun. When he raised it, Nichols fired one shot into Layton's chest, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
Polk Fire Rescue responded and began life-saving measures on Layton. He was then transported by ambulance and, shortly after, pronounced dead.
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Layton called deputies around 10:20 a.m. saying that someone was banging on his door, trying to get into his house and had a gun. Nichols arrived just after 10:30 a.m.
When Layton opened the door to the deputy sheriff, he had a handgun at his side. Nichols backed away from the front door and Layton followed him, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Nichols repeatedly told Layton to drop his gun. Layton raised it, and Nichols fired, the news release said.
Layton remained on the phone with the Emergency Communications Center until Nichols arrived and throughout the entire incident, the Sheriff's Office said.
Nichols was wearing a deputy uniform and near his marked patrol car, the news release states.
"This appears to be a classic example of suicide-by-cop," Sheriff Grady Judd said in the news release. "There is no evidence at this point in the investigation that there was ever anybody trying to get inside his house. Our deputy had no choice but to shoot him. I feel bad for this man's family and friends, but I am happy our deputy was not hurt."
Detectives were told by a neighbor that Layton's wife passed away earlier this year. They are determining if it played any part in his behavior.
Nichols is a 15-year veteran of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
The protocol for deputy-involved shootings includes four independent investigations. The Polk County Sheriff's Office homicide unit will conduct a death investigation, and Administrative Investigations will conduct an administrative inquiry.
The State's Attorney will conduct a separate investigation, and the 10th District Medical Examiner office will determine the cause and manner of death.
Nichols will be on administrative leave with pay during the initial phase of the investigation.
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