What to Know
- Dep. William Gentry of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office has died after being shot at the Lake Placid home
- Gentry responded to the home to speak with 69-year-old Joseph Ables over his suspected involvement in the shooting of a neighbor’s cat.
- Ables, who deputies say has a history of violence toward police and is a convicted felon, was arrested at the scene and taken to jail.
A sheriff’s deputy in one Florida county has died after being shot in the head while responding to a home for a dispute over a cat Sunday night.
Deputy William Gentry of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office was airlifted to a Fort Myers hospital after being shot at the home in Lake Placid, located just over 70 miles northeast of Fort Myers and 100 miles southeast of Tampa.
The sheriff's office said Gentry died from his injuries Monday afternoon.
According to NBC affiliate WFLA-TV in Tampa, Gentry responded to the home to speak with 69-year-old Joseph Ables over his suspected involvement in the shooting of a neighbor’s cat. When Gentry and a training officer who was with him arrived, police say Ables opened fire.
Ables, who deputies say has a history of violence toward police and is a convicted felon, was arrested at the scene and taken to jail. HCSO says he is being charged with several counts, including attempted first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
The Highlands County Sheriff, Paul Blackman, said the 40-year-old Gentry was a nine year member of the department, having served as a K-9 deputy from 2005 to 2013 before returning last year. His brother also is a member of the department.
Local
"This is an unimaginable tragedy for our agency," Blackman said.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott tweeted late Sunday that he had offered "all state resources" to Blackman. "Hurting a (law enforcement officer) is pure evil (and) we won't stand for it," Scott wrote.
