A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputy shot a suspect in the 1300 block of West 27th St. in Riviera Beach during a search for a man wanted on warrants for burglary with assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and grand theft, according to PBSO.
At 12:13 p.m. Wednesday, a PBSO fugitive warrants team approached a residence looking for the felon, identified as Lorenzo Fernelle Williams, 32, of Riviera Beach.
A woman outside noticed them, so the agents fanned out and one approached the backyard of the home, the sheriff's office said.
"Two individuals crashed through a window into the backyard as simultaneously our agent was in the backyard. Both of them had firearms. Our agent yelled 'gun, gun, gun.' One guy (Williams) had a pistol in his hands, started to raise it, deputy shot him one time, he went to the ground. The other guy ran off," Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said.
Williams was hit in the torso. He was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery. As of Wednesday night, he was in stable condition.
Our #FugitiveWarrants unit looking for a fugitive wanted on charges including burglary with assault and felon in possession of a firearm was shot by a deputy when the man raised a 9mm handgun. The man received a non-life threatening wound to his side. He is in surgery. pic.twitter.com/CnnA3iIrAW
— PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) October 3, 2018
Bradshaw said Williams has been involved in crimes since 1998. He said those crimes included drugs, assaults on officers and burglary.
Sheriff: One deputy involved in shooting, after a fugitive tried to run, allegedly raised gun at deputy. Here’s a photo of the gun he was holding. http://t.co/pfaI7vQPpU@WPTVContact5@WPTV#Contact5pic.twitter.com/7kwMBZDGya
— Merris Badcock (@MerrisBadcock) October 3, 2018
Williams was being sought on the follow charges for the warrant: burglary with assault/battery, felony in possession of a firearm/ammunition, grand theft and criminal mischief.
Following Wednesday's incident, he faces a new charge of aggravated assault with a firearm.
The deputy involved in the shooting will be on administrative leave which is routine. PBSO later identified him as tactical agent Keith Viti. He has been with the sheriff's office for 14 years.
FDLE is expected to eventually take over the investigation.
