A woman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries on Monday after she was shot by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies in a hotel room in Gainesville.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to the La Quinta Inn located at 908 NW 69th Terrace in Gainesville in reference to a well-being check. Upon arrival, hotel management informed them that the female occupant of a room had not been seen since Saturday, January 6.
Management also informed deputies that hotel staff members were unable to access the room in question because the deadbolt was securing the door.
The deputies approached the hotel room, announced themselves, and knocked multiple times. The room’s occupant did not open the door, and Alachua County Fire Rescue crews soon arrived on scene and forced entry into the room, according to ACSO.
The sheriff’s office stated that deputies observed an empty gun holster on the bed inside the room, and the bathroom door was locked. After giving “numerous verbal announcements,” deputies forced open the bathroom door and observed a woman who was armed with a handgun.
According to ACSO, the woman refused to drop the firearm and obey commands, and she was subsequently shot by the deputies.
After the woman sustained a gunshot wound, the deputies immediately rendered first aid, and the woman was rushed to a hospital in the Gainesville area for treatment of her injuries. Her name and age were not released by the sheriff’s office.
No deputies were injured during the incident.
“Based on ACSO officer involved shooting policies the investigation into the events and timeline that led to it will be conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement,” stated the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on its Facebook page.
The sheriff’s office added that its Office of Professional Standards will also conduct an investigation into whether proper policies were followed during the incident.
The ACSO deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both investigations.
No further details were provided by the sheriff’s office.