Jerry Richardson, 46
Indiantown, Florida
October 28, 2017
Agencies: Martin County Sheriff's Office - Florida
Cause of death: Not Yet Known
Last updated: almost 6 years ago
Overview 
Martin County sheriff’s officials tentatively identified a man who died after a deputy-involved shooting Friday as Jerry Richardson, who investigators say was carrying a machete.
But Sheriff William Snyder declined to identify the deputy who shot Richardson, who was committed involuntarily to a mental health facility in September under provisions of the state's Baker Act.
Richardson, 46, died after the late Friday incident in the western Martin County community. The deputy fired six times, striking Richardson five times in the torso.
Sheriff’s officials said in a tweet the identification was “pending fingerprint confirmation.”
The shooting happened about 11:15 p.m. after a deputy told dispatchers he’d be on foot patrol west of a store near Southwest Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Southwest Charleston Street. Within minutes, the deputy reported shots had been fired.
Another deputy on a traffic stop in the area came to the scene. When he arrived, he saw the deputy giving first aid to the man identified Monday as Richardson.
The second deputy also saw a large machete strapped to Richardson's wrist.
At a briefing Monday afternoon, Snyder said deputies don’t have a better sense of what happened because they do not have a statement from the deputy who fired his gun.
“There is a gap in our understanding of what occurred,” Snyder said.
The deputy who fired had scratches to his throat and back and abrasions to his hands, Snyder said.
He said the deputy is expected to make a statement about his actions later this week at the State Attorney’s Office.
“It’s very uncommon across all law enforcement spectrums for a law enforcement professional to use deadly force and to give an immediate statement,” Snyder said. “They will invariably consult with an attorney, collect their thoughts and then come and give a formal statement.”
Snyder declined to release the name of the deputy who fired so he can ready his family for public scrutiny and make other preparations. Snyder said he expected to identify the deputy on Wednesday.
“Because of the internet and because of the ease in which people can find out where we live and our patterns of our lives we think we owe it to our people to ... prepare themselves and their family for what’s coming when his name is released,” Snyder said.