Hernando Deputies Shoot Man To Death In Spring Hill

Video: WFLA Claudia DoCampo Report

SPRING HILL - A 25-year-old man was fatally shot by a deputy after he fired a single shot at the deputies demanding he put down his weapon, authorities say.

Kyle Gabelman died in the driveway of 13411 Banyan Road around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Kyle Gabelman

It was the third time that day that Gabelman showed up at his parents' doorstep. At 11:50 a.m., his mother dialed 911 asking for help with her son, who was distraught and suicidal after a breakup with his girlfriend, according to Chief Deputy Michael Hensley.

But, by the time deputies showed up, Gabelman had left in his black Ford F-150. An hour later, just before 1 p.m., a minor hit-and-run accident was reported at the intersection of Spring Hill Drive and Barclay Avenue, about a mile from the home on Banyan Road.

Shortly after, Gabelman returned to his parents' house. His pickup matched the description of the vehicle that fled the scene and had damage to the front passenger side, Hensley said.

Again, when deputies turned up, Gabelman had already left. At 1:50 p.m., Debbie Gabelman placed her third call to the sheriff's office that day. She was "extremely afraid of him," Hensley said.

This time, Gabelman was home when deputies showed up and he stepped outside holding a handgun.

What happened next is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The state agency was called into provide an objective review of the shooting and did not release any more information Tuesday, including the name of the deputy involved.

Authorities are sill searching for Gabelman's pickup which has a Florida tag of Q41 0BB.

Witnesses give a different version from the official line. Amanda Wahezi, 16, lives across the street and saw Gabelman pounding on the door begging to be let in just before the shooting.

She said he had a small black gun in his left hand. Two deputies showed up minutes later and parked their cars at an angle in the front yard. They trained their guns on him, ordering him to put down the weapon, Wahezi said.

Gabelman attempted to escape down a side yard, but a deputy was waiting for him there. He returned to the front yard and fired a shot over the heads of the deputies, according to Wahezi. Hensley said the shot was fired "at deputies."

All of those interviewed agreed that there was a "big boom" before the "rat-a-tat-tat" of return fire.

Glen Hruby was having his pickup repaired at his friend's house about 500 feet away, at the corner of Ralph Lane and Banyan Road. He saw a deputy assemble a weapon brought from the trunk of his cruiser and counted nine shots that were fired from that gun.

Jeff Rodriguez captured paramedics on film attempting to resuscitate Gabelman. They gave up after a few minutes and covered him in a white sheet.