Family Says Unarmed Man Shot By Walton Deputies

A Freeport area man was killed late Monday afternoon after being shot by a Walton County sheriff’s deputy who was responding to a domestic disturbance at a home on Pope Street just northwest of Freeport.
The victim was identified by family friends as 40 year old Jeffrey Weekly who lived in the home with his girlfriend.
Apparently the two were fighting over a set of car keys when a 911 hang up call was placed. Weekly reportedly ran into a nearby wooded area. The first deputy who arrived on the scene called for a back up.
We are told the deputy went into the woods to find Weekly. Shortly afterwards several shots were heard and the victim was pronounced dead a short while later.
The FDLE and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office are investigating. Further details are expected later today..

Family Says Unarmed Man Shot By Walton Deputieshttp://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/52429347.html

I take great exception to your thread title since the official report has not been released. Having drawn and pointed a gun at someone before, and had a gun pointed at me, this is a gut-wrenching experience for those involved. The reports I have read in the news do not indicate any family was in close proximity to the actual situation. I think we should wait until the facts are released.

After reading the news and the latest article, I heard gunshots tonight from somewhere nearby and couldn't help but wonder if the sheriffs were involved. Wrobert, I hope the investigation turns up something other than the policeman was startled or the man was armed with a pine branch.

From what's been reported so far, I'd be scared to dial 911 for anything and I'm looking forward to some answers.

After reading the news and the latest article, I heard gunshots tonight from somewhere nearby and couldn't help but wonder if the sheriffs were involved. Wrobert, I hope the investigation turns up something other than the policeman was startled or the man was armed with a pine branch.

From what's been reported so far, I'd be scared to dial 911 for anything and I'm looking forward to some answers.

Only time will tell.

I am glad to hear none of the law enforcement officials were injured - beyond that, who the hail knows yet what happened. :roll:

Certainly isn't going to keep me from dialing 9-1-1 you snerd!

I attempted to change it. From what I saw on the news the family is claiming that he was unarmed. Honestly I feel that this is going to turn out to be a tragedy for both the family and the officer involved. They were in the woods and it was dark.

This may be a case where the less said the better. It is a tragedy anytime someone dies for no reason.

I think this is just one of those times we have to trust the FDLE to do the investigation, and not speculate too much either way or try to second guess what was happening there.

You are right, this is a tragedy all of the way around.

When I first moved to the big city of Houston from small town rural Georgia, there was a car chase on the 610 loop. LEO finally got the car stopped and a woman got out with a knife. She was shot dead. It turned out she was mentally ill, but I wondered why they didn't just injure her by other means in order to gain control of the situation, so I asked a deputy about it. He said they had a shoot to kill policy, so if they drew a weapon on you, they intend to kill you. With all of the other options out there to disable someone, I wonder why shooting is the first option taken. I agree this is a tragedy for everyone involved. It can't be easy from either standpoint in this situation.

This may be a case where the less said the better. It is a tragedy anytime someone dies for no reason.

I agree that it is a tragedy, but we have no idea what happenned that night, and to say it was for no reason is just more speculation. I am thankful for the men and women at the SO, and hope the truth comes out.

When I first moved to the big city of Houston from small town rural Georgia, there was a car chase on the 610 loop. LEO finally got the car stopped and a woman got out with a knife. She was shot dead. It turned out she was mentally ill, but I wondered why they didn't just injure her by other means in order to gain control of the situation, so I asked a deputy about it. He said they had a shoot to kill policy, so if they drew a weapon on you, they intend to kill you. With all of the other options out there to disable someone, I wonder why shooting is the first option taken. I agree this is a tragedy for everyone involved. It can't be easy from either standpoint in this situation.

Ever seen someone on PCP? There is no injury shot with someone on that stuff. The one I heard about was a guy who took 99 bullets and was still going. He died after he came down, but that would seem like a good enough reason to go for a kill shot, knife or otherwise.

It is also not like Hollywood - if you do have to shoot someone, you are aiming for the center of the largest target, you aren't trying for trick shots at small targets.

I saw the news story immediately after it happened and the guy's sister said that she didn't think he owned a gun. That doesn't mean much in my opinion.

When I first moved to the big city of Houston from small town rural Georgia, there was a car chase on the 610 loop. LEO finally got the car stopped and a woman got out with a knife. She was shot dead. It turned out she was mentally ill, but I wondered why they didn't just injure her by other means in order to gain control of the situation, so I asked a deputy about it. He said they had a shoot to kill policy, so if they drew a weapon on you, they intend to kill you. With all of the other options out there to disable someone, I wonder why shooting is the first option taken. I agree this is a tragedy for everyone involved. It can't be easy from either standpoint in this situation.

Unless they've been added and everyone certified (which is something I'm sure I would have heard some stories about), remember that the WCSO does not use tasers. Yet.

I agree that it is a tragedy, but we have no idea what happenned that night, and to say it was for no reason is just more speculation. I am thankful for the men and women at the SO, and hope the truth comes out.

Wholeheartedly agree with your post. I just read the new article posted in the Walton Sun, which shed more light on how the situation unfolded from the family's viewpoint. Then I investigated further by looking at the Public Records at Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts. Lets just say they knew Mr. Weekley very well over there. It appears that there was an active Warrant for arrest, he has had arrests where he has resisted officers and also an ARMED burglary of a dwelling, to name a few. It is a LOT of reading. Though it is still under investigation and the SO cannot comment officially at this time, I have a better understanding of why the officers may have (and should have been) on high alert for this call.

Family says man shot by deputy was unarmed | unarmed, deputy, family - Local News - WaltonSun.com
Okaloosa County Clerk of Court : Case Search

So this all apparently started because the girlfriend was trying to keep the guy whose license was suspended for DUI from making a SECOND alcohol run that day...................and he ran into the woods because he didn't want to go BACK to jail AGAIN. :blink:

She called for help. Obviously there was a big enough problem for her to call 911, then she regretted it. The dispatcher felt further investigation was warranted. We haven't heard the actual call yet, so let the investigators investigate.

I take great exception to your thread title since the official report has not been released. Having drawn and pointed a gun at someone before, and had a gun pointed at me, this is a gut-wrenching experience for those involved. The reports I have read in the news do not indicate any family was in close proximity to the actual situation. I think we should wait until the facts are released.

I agree with you that we don't know what happend, that the report hasn't been released and that it seems no family was witness to the unfortunate event. That said-

Why take exception to SWGB's thread title? That is the title of the online news story to which he linked. And it is true that the family believes/said that the man was unarmed (whether true or not)...

:idontno:

I agree with you that we don't know what happend, that the report hasn't been released and that it seems no family was witness to the unfortunate event. That said-

Why take exception to SWGB's thread title? That is the title of the online news story to which he linked. And it is true that the family believes/said that the man was unarmed (whether true or not)...

:idontno:

Thanks for the defense GEO, but wrobert was referring to the original title. Kurt changed it for me and the current title is much more accurate.

Thanks for the defense GEO, but wrobert was referring to the original title. Kurt changed it for me and the current title is much more accurate.

Aw snap. Sorry WRobert!!!
Thx for setting me straight, SWGB...