Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Deputy-Involved Shooting
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a man who allegedly pointed a firearm at deputies Thursday evening.
The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Eager Road, just outside the Punta Gorda city limits, between Burnt Store Road and U.S. 41.
Sheriff Bill Prummell identified the man as Michael Lewis Schwartz and provided details about the events leading up to the shooting.
According to Prummell, Schwartz was reported walking along Eager Road, waving and discharging a handgun while shouting, “Where are the cops?” This behavior prompted a large-scale response from CCSO deputies to the scene, which unfolded over several hours.
Deputies eventually located Schwartz seated on the front porch of a residence. Prummell stated, “As deputies were walking down the road, they observed the male, later identified as Michael Lewis Schwartz, seated in a chair on the front porch of the residence. Schwartz stood up and raised a handgun and pointed it in the direction of the deputies.”
The deputies took cover before two of them fired multiple shots, striking Schwartz.
Schwartz was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured during the incident.
Sheriff Prummell noted that Schwartz’s motive remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has been called in to assist in the investigation, which is standard protocol for deputy-involved shootings. The deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave, as is customary during such inquiries.
The sheriff expressed gratitude that no deputies were harmed and pledged full transparency as the investigation progresses.
Residents in the area described the incident as unsettling but commended the quick response from law enforcement.
Further updates will be provided as new details emerge.